2017 actress assault case: Kerala Government appeals against trial court verdict acquitting Dileep and others

TRIGGER WARNING: This article includes references to sexual abuse.The Kerala Government has acted on the long-pending question surrounding its appeal in the high-profile actress assault case.Reports from Manorama Online says that after weeks of speculation, the state has now approached the High Court, challenging the verdict of the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court.

The appeal disputes the acquittal of actor Dileep and three others who were cleared earlier.

Reportedly It also seeks maximum punishment for Pulsar Suni and the remaining accused. The petition was filed on the 78th day after the judgment which has drawn attention due to the delay.

State challenges acquittal of four accused Including Dileep

In its submission, the government requests the reversal of the acquittal given to four accused including Dileep. It also demands maximum punishment for the six men convicted earlier.

The trial court had acquitted the eighth accused Dileep, seventh accused Charly Thomas, ninth accused Sanil, and fifteenth accused Sharath, citing lack of evidence for criminal conspiracy. According to the appeal, the trial court failed to evaluate the legal framework and factual components of the case.

The government argues that critical links were ignored and this weakened the process of judicial scrutiny.

State seeks maximum penalty for Pulsar Suni and five others

The trial court had earlier sentenced Pulsar Suni and five others, accused one to six, to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment. The government now opens up on the seriousness of their actions and highlights how the assault violated the privacy and dignity of the survivor and was even recorded on camera. It stresses that imposing lesser punishment would send the wrong message. Hence, the appeal insists on the maximum penalty for those already found guilty.

Appeal claims Dileep was the mastermind behind the attack

Reportedly the appeal claims Dileep was the mastermind behind the brutal assault. It states that he believed the survivor had damaged his family life, and this resentment led him to a conspiracy. According to the government, there are witness accounts and other pieces of evidence showing that Dileep and Pulsar Suni met at multiple locations. These interactions point toward planning. The appeal argues that these were overlooked by the trial court.

It also asks the High Court to remove the remarks made against investigating officer Baiju Paulose in the lower court’s verdict.The attack occurred on February 17, 2017, while the actress was travelling from Thrissur to Kochi. After a lengthy trial, the verdict came on December 8, 2025, with sentencing on December 12. Dileep was acquitted, while six were given 20-year sentences. Soon after the verdict, the state had said it would appeal quickly, but the filing came only after 78 days.

Meanwhile, the convicted men had already approached the Kerala High Court within weeks.The survivor had earlier wrote on social media, “My mistake. When an attack happened against me, I immediately went to the police and moved forward asking for legal action!! I should have accepted everything that happened that day as fate, stayed silent, and told no one anything.”DISCLAIMER: If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, assault, or abuse, please seek immediate help. Reach out to a mental health specialist, NGO, or trusted individual. Several helplines are available to offer assistance.