'I was framed, Kerala police made up a false story, began with Manju's statement': After acquittal, Dileep alleges conspiracy against him

Malayalam actor and producer Dileep, after being acquitted of charges of criminal conspiracy in the actress assault case on Monday, hit out at Kerala police, saying that cops cooked up a false story to frame him. Walking out of the Principal Sessions court, a visibly relieved Dileep took his time to address the media persons who milled around him. 

"The conspiracy against me began with Manju's statement," he said, referring to Manju Warrier's speech at a solidarity gathering held in Kochi in 2017, two days after the actor was abducted and sexually assaulted inside a moving car. "A senior police official then used criminal cops to frame me," he said. 

"The police made up a false case with the help of the other accused and then used a section of the media to propagate the story. Today that story has crumbled in the court. The real conspiracy in this case was to frame me, to ruin my film career, my life," he said. When a question about the conspiracy was posed, Dileep seemed to lose his cool for a moment. He soon gathered himself and continued.

"Let me speak. I thank my family and my friends who have stood by me, those who have prayed for me and my lawyers who have worked day and night to defend me in this case," he said. Earlier, Dileep avoided talking to the media upon arriving at the court for hearing the judgement. When the charges were being read out for the first six accused, he stood calmly and when the Judge pronounced that the accused number 7, 8, 9 and 15 have been acquitted, he remained calm, even as a collective sigh of relief was heard in the court. 

While alleging conspiracy on the part of the cops, Dileep didn't take any further questions although he was repeatedly asked who was behind the conspiracy. He ignored all the questions and walked off, accompanied by his counsels.