Kochi: The verdict in the case relating to the abduction, sexual assault and filming of defamatory visuals of the actress will come eight and a half years after the incident. The case drew national attention not only because the survivor and some accused are from the film industry, but also due to the strong and unyielding stance taken by the survivor throughout.

The assault that took place against the actress also led to the formation of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), a women’s organisation in the Malayalam film industry. The government later appointed the Hema Committee to study the problems faced by women in the industry.

The trial began in 2018. Due to the COVID lockdown, the proceedings were stalled for nearly two years. The deadline fixed by the Supreme Court to complete the trial could not be met. Controversy also arose over the memory card containing the visuals of the attack allegedly being accessed while in police custody.

Examination of prosecution witnesses concluded in September last year. The final witness examined was the investigating officer, Baiju Paulose. It took 109 days to complete the process. The defence then completed its witness examination, and it was expected that the verdict would be delivered early this year. However, procedural delays extended the timeline.

Case at a glance

  • 261 witnesses
  • 438 days of witness examination
  • 833 documents presented by prosecution
  • 142 material objects

Timeline

2017 February 17 – Actress assaulted

2017 February 18 – Driver Martin Antony arrested

2017 February 19 – Vadival Salim and Pradeep arrested

2017 February 20 – Manikandan arrested

2017 February 23 – First accused Pulsar Suni arrested as he arrived in court to surrender

2017 June 28 – Actor Dileep questioned

2017 July 10 – Dileep arrested

2017 October 3 – High Court grants bail to Dileep

2018 March 8 – Trial begins

2019 November 29 – Supreme Court directs completion of trial within six months

2021 December 25 – Director Balachandra Kumar makes revelations

2022 January 4 – Further investigation allowed based on Kumar’s statements

2024 September 17 – Bail granted to Pulsar Suni

2024 December 11 – Final arguments begin

2025 April 9 – Defence completes arguments

List of accused

  1. Sunil N S (Pulsar Suni)
  2. Martin Antony
  3. B Manikandan
  4. V P Vijeesh
  5. H Salim (Vadival Salim)
  6. Pradeep
  7. Charlie Thomas
  8. Actor Dileep (P Gopalakrishnan)
  9. Sanilkumar (Mesthiri Sanil)
  10. G Sharath (15th in the original list)

Verdict on Dec 8, 2025

The verdict in the actress assault case will be delivered on December 8. The trial was completed on Tuesday by Ernakulam Principal Sessions Judge Honey M Varghese. Actor Dileep is the 8th accused in the case.

There are 10 accused, including first accused Pulsar Suni. The verdict comes eight and a half years after a case that drew nationwide attention. The incident occurred on February 17, 2017, when the actress was travelling from Thrissur to Ernakulam for a film shoot. According to the prosecution, she was abducted, assaulted and filmed in an obscene manner.

The defence submitted 221 documents. 28 people turned approvers. Charges include outraging modesty, conspiracy, unlawful confinement, assault, destruction of evidence, filming obscene content and dissemination.

Pulsar Suni and others were arrested within days of the incident. Actor Dileep was arrested later in July in connection with the conspiracy angle.

The trial began on March 8, 2018. Following the survivor’s request, the High Court appointed a woman judge. The proceedings were held in camera. After director Balachandra Kumar’s revelations, the Crime Branch conducted further investigation and filed a second chargesheet. Crime Branch DySP Baiju K Paulose was the investigating officer. Some names were removed from the original list and some turned approvers.