Kerala Actress Assault Case: SC Extends Time To Complete Trial, Sets July 31 As New Deadline

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Trial Court to complete the trial in the Kerala actress assault case by July 31.

A Bench of Justices Dinesh Maheshwari and Sanjay Kumar also asked the Trial Judge to submit a new report on the progress of the trial by August 4 in the 2017 case involving the kidnapping and assault of a Kerala actress.

“We have taken note of the report sent by the Trial Judge. The trial’s conclusion date has been further extended. However, we anticipate that the trial will be completed in all respects by July 31, 2023. List this subject for August 4, when the trial court is expected to give a new progress report before the next date,” the order stated.

The Court was hearing a petition filed by Malayalam actor Dileep, who is accused of devising the criminal conspiracy behind the attack on actress, demanding completion of the trial proceeding before the Trial Court within the time limit specified in the case.

During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel asked the Court to hear the case again in August, taking into account the Trial Judge’s report on the trial’s progress.

“We don’t understand why this trial judge always asks for three months in his report,” the bench said.

Senior Advocate Ranjit Kumar, appearing for the State, stated that cross examination has been ongoing for 24 and a half days in relation to one of the prosecution’s witlessness.

The delay, according to the petitioner’s attorney, is due to technological difficulties occurring online.

“Then the judge is correct. He is not a machine, either. We ask him to do it in three months, he also sends us a standard letter,” the Bench observed before passing the order.

The Supreme Court had asked the Kerala State government (prosecution) in February why the trial before the Ernakulam court in the Kerala actor sexual assault case was taking so long.

A few months ago, the Supreme Court refused to pass any order interfering with the examination of witnesses in the Court’s ongoing trial before the Ernakulam Court.