All eyes are on the Ernakulam District Sessions Court in Kochi as it prepares to deliver its verdict in the sensational 2017 actor abduction and rape case, a trial that has stretched across years and gripped Kerala.

The case relates to the alleged abduction and sexual assault of a woman actor in a moving car on February 17, 2017.

Actor Dileep, the eighth accused, was tried for allegedly hatching a conspiracy with the prime accused, N.S. Sunil alias Pulsar Suni. Dileep was imprisoned for 84 days during the investigation.

The trial began in 2018 but faced repeated disruptions. Proceedings were stalled after the survivor approached higher courts twice seeking the removal of the presiding judicial officer. The case was halted twice following the resignation of special prosecutors. Nearly two years were lost due to the COVID-19 lockdown. Multiple appeals by the prosecution, survivor and accused against various trial court orders added further delay.

The court examined around 1,700 documents and recorded the testimony of 261 witnesses, including prominent film personalities. The trial was conducted in camera.

A total of 15 people were named as accused in the case.

N.S. Sunil alias Pulsar Suni (Accused 1): Driver from Vengoor, Ernakulam. Arrested on February 23, 2017, and later released on September 20, 2024, after over seven years as an undertrial. Booked under IPC Sections 120A, 120B, 109, 376, 342, 204 and 201 for gang rape, conspiracy, wrongful confinement, use of criminal force, destruction of evidence and circulation of obscene images.

Martin Antony (Accused 2): Private film studio driver in Kochi. Booked under the same IPC sections and charges.

Manikandan B. (Accused 3): Autorickshaw driver. Booked under the same charges. He attempted suicide on November 28, 2025, after being taken into custody and released by Palarivattom police in a public nuisance case.

Vijeesh V.P. (Accused 4): Electrician, charged under the same IPC sections.

Salim H. alias Vadival Salim (Accused 5): Bus crew member, charged under the same provisions.

Pradeep (Accused 6): Bus crew member, booked under identical charges.

Charly Thomas (Accused 7): Bakery employee, charged for harbouring the accused and providing accommodation in Coimbatore.

P. Gopalakrishnan alias Dileep (Accused 8): Actor, charged under IPC Sections 120A, 120B, 109, 376, 342, 204 and 201.

Sanilkumar alias Mesthiri Sanil (Accused 9): Charged with criminal intimidation under IPC 506 for conspiring inside jail to extort money. The only accused still in jail.

Sarath (Accused 15): Hotel owner in Aluva and a close friend of actor Dileep.

Approvers and acquittals

Three accused — Vishnu, Vipin Lal and police constable Aneesh — turned approvers. Lawyers Pratheesh Chacko and Raju Joseph, who allegedly received the mobile phone containing the visuals, were later acquitted.