Overview
- The Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court concluded hearings and will deliver the judgment on December 8, reserving its verdict in the 2017 case.
- All accused, including Malayalam actor Dileep and first accused Sunil Kumar alias Pulsar Suni, have been directed to appear in court on the day of the ruling.
- Prosecutors say the survivor was abducted and sexually assaulted in a moving car near Kochi on February 17, 2017, and that the assault was recorded to blackmail her.
- The charges span IPC Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 366 (kidnapping) and 376D (gang rape), along with provisions of the Information Technology Act.
- Proceedings were prolonged by multiple petitions, alleged tampering of digital evidence, witness hostilities and a further probe triggered by filmmaker Balachandrakumar’s statements.