The Supreme Court on Monday asked the district Court to conclude as soon as earliest the trial of Malayam actor Dileep, accused in the actress assault case of 2017.
A Bench comprising of Justices Dinesh Maheshwari and Dipankar Datta directed Dileep to state his position on the State’s request to question another 40 or so witnesses by tomorrow.
Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Dileep, asked that the Court pass some appropriate direction so that the trial can be concluded as soon as possible.
The State government’s counsel then asked how the accused could complain about delays when there are so many witnesses to question, to which Justice Dinesh Maheswari replied, “But why should witness statements be supplemented? Sir, there must be some method.”
The case will be heard by the Supreme Court again on Friday, February 17.
The Supreme Court had in September last year extended the deadline for conclusion of the trial in the sexual assault case to January 31 this year.
The trial is still ongoing to till date. Dileep and his associates are accused of plotting to commit a revenge crime against a female actor in the Malayalam film industry by kidnapping, sexually assaulting, and photographing her.
Dileep was arrested and charged in July 2017 under various IPC offences, including Sections 366 (kidnapping), 120B (criminal conspiracy), and 376D. (gangrape). He was later released on bail.
It was alleged that the victim played a role in Dileep’s divorce from his former wife. Dileep is accused of orchestrating the actress’s kidnapping, during which nude photographs of her were taken.
The Supreme Court was hearing a miscellaneous application filed by Dileep today, alleging that the trial at the Principal Sessions Court in Ernakulam is being delayed at the behest of the prosecutrix in order to avoid a verdict.
Furthermore, rather than the case moving forward quickly, he was subjected to a media trial, it was submitted.
In January, the Supreme Court refused to pass any orders in response to the Kerala government’s request for an extension of the deadline for completing the trial.
Instead, the Court deferred to the trial court’s discretion in making an appropriate decision. It had also set a February 16, 2022 deadline for completing the trial against the actor.
In December 2022, Dileep was charged with another case for conspiring to murder police officers who were investigating the case. While the Kerala High Court declined to dismiss the FIR, it did grant the actor anticipatory bail.
The Kerala High Court is currently hearing a petition filed by the survivor actress alleging foul play in the investigation and trial, as well as another petition seeking to prevent the media from reporting on the case until the final verdict is pronounced.
