Waving at a bevy of his supporters, Dileep, hemmed in by lawyers, slowly descended the steps of the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court on Monday. Minutes earlier, he went in, almost in a hurry, his lips pursed and head down. He stood trial for criminal conspiracy in the actress assault case. He came out, a free man. As he made his way out, he held his head high. Briefly, he had his hands in prayer.

The hours leading to the moment of the verdict were a mix of anticipation, tension, and noise at the Ernakulam Principal Sessions court. Police had already taken charge by early morning, sealing the area on both the front and back ends of the court complex. Every few minutes, officers shouted instructions to keep the crowd flowing. Their tone shifted depending on the moment – calm one second, stern the next.

Outside the barricades, small groups of curious bystanders gathered early, whispering theories, opinions, and doubt. Judge Honey Varghese arrived around 9.45 am. Her car slowed at the gate, and she stepped out with a calm that immediately caught attention. She looked composed, even smiling slightly as she made her way inside.

Soon after, Advocate A B Sabu, representing accused five and six, Vadival Salim and Pradeep, arrived. With barely concealed excitement, he told the media this would be “the biggest judgment in the history of India.” His confidence echoed in the way he spoke, the way he moved. There was no nervousness, only certainty.

On the survivor’s side, her lawyer Advocate T B Mini interacted briefly with reporters before heading in. “We are hopeful,” she said, but her tone didn’t carry the same assurance as the defence lawyers. Special Public Prosecutor V Ajakumar, when approached, kept it professional. “The verdict is for the court to decide, but we do have high hopes,” he said.

Just after 10.30 am, actor Dileep arrived. His car barely slowed down as it entered the premises. The media tried to run after him, shouting questions, but the actor didn’t roll down his window or say a word. He disappeared quickly inside the complex. Within minutes, the first accused, Pulsar Suni, arrived too. His entry caused another wave of chaos – media fighting for footage, people pushing for a glimpse. But in the midst of it all, Suni slipped out of the vehicle and walked in quietly. If he felt anything – nervousness, remorse, fear – it didn’t show on his face.

By 10.45 am, the tension outside, however, kept rising. Small groups talked among themselves, recalling the gruesome details of the case almost casually. Some repeated the events of that night as though narrating a story they had retold too many times. A few cracked jokes, some whispered their predictions, and a handful looked like they were simply there to “be part of a big day.” The gravity of what the verdict meant for the survivor didn’t seem to weigh on many shoulders outside.

A woman standing near the barricade turned to the person next to her, asking, “Horrible thing to even hear… will Dileep get jail? Is it sure?” Her question floated in the air, but nobody around her had an answer. Between 10.55 and 11 am, the energy outside shifted drastically. Media crews stood ready, fingers on record buttons. Police started shouting more frequently, trying to push back the swelling crowd that now included a noticeable number of Dileep fans. The excitement among them was hard to miss; some held small banners, some stood on the tips of their toes peering into the court gate.

Around 11.05 am, the verdict finally came out. Dileep: Not guilty.

The reaction was immediate. Claps erupted at the gate, followed by loud cheers. A majority of the cheers came from men – the actor’s loyal fan base. “We knew this would happen! He hasn’t done anything wrong!” shouted a group near the barricade. A few fans were crying. Some hugged each other. Among them was a woman who told, “I came from Dubai just for this verdict.”

Sweets were passed around. Some people accepted them without hesitation. Others refused, perhaps out of moral discomfort or quiet solidarity with the survivor. The mix of celebrations and silence created a strange, contradictory atmosphere – joy on one side, a sobering sadness on the other.

Minutes later, Dileep stepped out of the court. Police, media and fans all surged forward. “Dileepettaaaaa!” the crowd roared. The actor smiled, waved, and looked visibly relieved. “If there is any criminal conspiracy at all, it is against me,” he told the media.

But the celebration wasn’t universal. Beyond the cheering fans stood another section of people watching the scene unfold with downcast faces. Shocked, disappointed, or simply numb. As one man murmured to his friend while they walked away, “His real punishment already happened. Eight years… that was the sentence he served.”

Once the commotion around Dileep’s exit subsided, attention shifted to the remaining six accused who had been found guilty. Media crews stood waiting outside the court gates as a police van pulled up to take them into custody. After what felt like a long wait, all six, including the main accused, Pulsar Suni, were escorted out. They hurried into the van without responding to questions,  offering no reaction as the cameras followed their every step.

The court complex slowly began to clear, but the heaviness of the morning still lingered.