Gang-rape case: Dileep acquitted, 6 convicted

Trial and turmoil: A timeline of the case

- Vishnu Varma

A Kerala court on Monday convicted six people but acquitted actor Dileep in the sensational 2017 actress abduction and gang rape case that made national headlines, sent shock waves through the Malayalam film industry and prompted far-reaching shifts in state movie bodies.

Ernakulam principal sessions judge Honey M Varghese read out the verdict in a packed courtroom shortly after Il am, capping a trial that ebbed and flowed over seven years, stunning the state's public consciousness and precipitating landmark changes in the film industry.

The sentence will be pronounced on Friday.

The trial court found six accused -- Sunil NS, aka 'Pulsar' Suni, Martin Antony, B Manikandan, VP Vijeesh, H Salim and Pradeep -- guilty of charges including gang rape, kidnapping, intent to outrage a woman's modesty, and conspiracy.

At the same time, the prosecution could not gather enough evidence to prove the charge of conspiracy against actor Dileep, who allegedly ordered the assault on the woman actor as part of a personal grudge, the court said. Three other accused -- Charley Thomas, Sanil Kumar and Sarath G Nair -- who were charged with offences including harbouring an accused and destroying evidence were also acquitted.