Kerala actor assault verdict leaked? Anonymous letter sparks major probe

A controversy has emerged over claims that the judgment in the high-profile Kerala actor assault case may have been leaked days before it was delivered in court. The Kerala High Court Advocates’ Association (KHCAA) has sent an anonymous letter to the Chief Justice after receiving it through registered post on October 6.

The verdict in the case, overseen by Judge Honey Varghese, was officially pronounced on December 8. However, the anonymous letter, signed by an individual identifying themselves only as an “Indian citizen”, reached the KHCAA on December 2 and claimed to know in advance which accused would be acquitted and which would be convicted.

According to the letter, the 7th accused Charly Thomas, the 8th accused Gopalakrishnan alias Dileep, and the 9th accused Sanilkumar alias Mesthiri Sanil would be discharged, while six others would be convicted. It also contained disparaging remarks about the judge and raised concerns about the fairness of the process.

KHCAA president Yeshwanth Shenoy confirmed that he forwarded the letter to the Chief Justice on October 8. He said he had no further information about the sender and believed it was his responsibility to bring the letter to the court’s attention to uphold judicial integrity. Shenoy added that any further action would now rest with the Chief Justice.

In his note accompanying the forwarded letter, Shenoy stated that the allegations required verification regardless of how the case ultimately concluded. He urged the Chief Justice to direct the vigilance registrar or another competent authority to investigate whether any named individuals were involved and how such confidential information could have been compromised.

Legal observers say the claims, even if unverified, highlight public concerns about transparency and confidentiality in high-stakes cases. The Kerala High Court is yet to announce whether a formal inquiry will be initiated.