New Delhi: The witness examination in the actress assault case at the Ernakulam Principal District and Sessions Court ran for 419 days, followed by five months of final hearing, marking one of the most prolonged trials in Kerala’s legal history. For eight years, Malayalam actor Dileep was represented by a five-member defence team led by prominent criminal lawyer B Raman Pillai, supported by Philip T Varghese, Sujesh Menon, Shubha Abraham and Nithya R.

How Raman Pillai joined the case

Dileep first approached Raman Pillai after being named an accused, but the senior lawyer declined as he had earlier represented the opposing side in another case involving Kavya Madhavan. After the High Court rejected Dileep’s initial bail plea, his family made a second request. Although hesitant, Raman Pillai eventually agreed after reviewing the FIR and records. He then deputed Sujesh Menon and Philip Varghese to meet Dileep in Ernakulam jail nearly ten times, and sources say his confidence in the actor’s innocence grew after every meeting.

The trial became the longest courtroom appearance of Raman Pillai’s career, with the senior advocate present for more than 400 days. The case also brought allegations that Dileep’s lawyers attempted to sabotage the trial, but a complaint filed by the survivor before the Bar Council was later dismissed.

Long legal career and high-profile cases

Raman Pillai, an alumnus of Ernakulam Law College (1972), has appeared in several headline-making criminal cases, including the Polakkulam murder, Sister Abhaya case, Chekannoor case, T P Chandrasekharan case and the Franco case. Representing Dileep in the actress assault case coincided with the 50th year of his legal career.

The lawyers behind the defence strategy

A key figure behind Dileep’s decision to approach Raman Pillai was Philip T Varghese, his long-time friend and former student leader at Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam. When Dileep came to Maharaja's College for undergraduate studies, Philip was a student at the nearby Ernakulam Law College, but they became friends. Philip has represented Dileep for decades, including in the case with Manju Warrier, and was instrumental in bringing Mukul Rohatgi to the Supreme Court on Dileep’s behalf.

Another major pillar of the defence team was Sujesh Menon, a Thrissur native and alumnus of Symbiosis Law College, Pune. A junior to Raman Pillai since 2007, Sujesh was involved in every stage of the case and played a decisive role in witness examination and final arguments before the Sessions Court, High Court and Supreme Court.

Women lawyers on the team

The defence also included two women advocates: Shubha Abraham, a native of Thiruvalla and graduate of Thiruvananthapuram Law College, and Nithya R, an Ernakulam native and graduate of Ernakulam Law College. Both are juniors of Philip Varghese and contributed to the briefing, research and courtroom proceedings.