Nearly eight years after the attack that shook Kerala’s film industry, the 2017 actress assault case is on the brink of closure. The Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court presided over by Judge Honey M Varghese is all set to pronounce the verdict in the high-profile case on Monday. Actor Dileep (P Gopalakrishnan), listed as the eighth accused, and Pulsar Suni are among the ten people charged in connection with the case.

The case dates back to February 2017, when a Malayalam actress was allegedly abducted and sexually assaulted inside a moving car while travelling from Thrissur to Ernakulam. According to the prosecution, a vehicle rammed into her car near Angamaly, after which a group of men confronted the driver, forcibly entered the vehicle and drove it along the national highway.

During this period, the first accused, Pulsar Suni, is alleged to have sexually assaulted the actress and recorded the act on his mobile phone. The survivor was later abandoned outside a film director’s residence, and the assailants fled.

The police arrested seven people in connection with the assault, concluding that the crime was the result of a conspiracy intended to harm the actress, film the assault and use it for blackmail. Following Suni’s arrest, suspicion turned towards actor Dileep, whose alleged involvement came under scrutiny after a letter from Suni addressed to him surfaced from jail.

Dileep rejected the allegations, accusing the media of spreading misinformation and demanding a police inquiry into how his name was linked to the case. He was taken into custody in July 2017 after hours of interrogation and spent 85 days in jail before securing bail.

The case has since navigated multiple courts, including the High Court and the Supreme Court. Charges against all accused were formally framed in January 2020.

In 2022, the case took a dramatic turn when actor Balachandra Kumar released audio clips purportedly involving Dileep. The clips suggested attempts to sabotage the case and allegedly hinted at plans to endanger members of the investigation team. Following this, a fresh case was registered against Dileep and five others for conspiracy to harm the officials probing the assault.

The brutality of the crime triggered widespread outrage across Kerala and the Indian film industry. Women’s voices grew louder, demanding accountability and safety within the industry. The incident became a catalyst for structural changes, including the formation of the Hema Committee, which was tasked with examining systemic issues faced by women in the Malayalam film industry. Its report, submitted in 2019, led to further action after the High Court directed the government to file cases based on its findings.