Kerala court to announce verdict in Dileep abduction case on Dec 8
A major verdict is due tomorrow in Kerala's high-profile 2017 case, where actor Dileep and nine others are accused of abducting and sexually assaulting a well-known actress inside her car in Kochi.
Charges include gang rape, conspiracy, wrongful confinement, evidence destruction, and IT Act violations.
What's happened so far?
The prosecution says the crime was driven by personal enmity linked to Dileep's secret affair.
The case has drawn huge public attention because of its impact on the Malayalam film industry.
Since the trial began in January 2020, there have been over 260 witnesses and repeated delays—petitions, changes in prosecutors, new investigations, even COVID-19 disruptions.
Evidence tampering concerns surfaced when a memory card with visuals of the assault was reportedly altered while under court custody.
Despite a Supreme Court order for a speedy trial, the process stretched on for years; Dileep was arrested in July 2017 but got bail three months later.