Mon Dec 08 06:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Kerala Actor Assault Case: Pulsar Suni Convicted, Dileep Acquitted

Kochi, Kerala – In a stunning verdict delivered today, a Kerala sessions court convicted Sunil Kumar, known as Pulsar Suni, in the 2017 sexual assault case of a prominent Malayalam actress. However, superstar actor Dileep, accused of orchestrating the crime, was acquitted.

The Additional Special Sessions Court (SPE/CBI – III), Ernakulam, found Suni guilty of rape. Martin Antony, the driver of the survivor’s car on the night of the assault, along with Suni’s accomplices Manikandan, Vijeesh VP, Salim H, and Pradeep were also convicted on charges including criminal conspiracy, outraging modesty, kidnapping, disrobing, and gang rape, as well as offences under the Information Technology Act for recording the assault.

The case, which has gripped Kerala for nearly a decade, stems from the abduction and sexual assault of the actress in a moving car in Kochi on February 17, 2017. Suni was quickly apprehended, leading to an investigation that implicated Dileep as the mastermind behind the attack. Prosecutors alleged the assault was motivated by personal animosity.

The trial, presided over by Special Judge Honey M Varghese, was plagued by delays, legal challenges, and accusations of bias. The survivor and the state government repeatedly, but unsuccessfully, sought to replace the judge. Witnesses turned hostile, allegations of evidence tampering arose, and numerous petitions were filed. All the accused had been granted bail at different times before the verdict.

Dileep’s acquittal leaves unanswered questions about the alleged conspiracy and the motive behind the horrific crime. The case has sparked crucial conversations about misogyny and power dynamics within the Malayalam film industry. It led to the formation of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) and the subsequent Hema Committee, which investigated workplace harassment and gender discrimination. The Hema Committee report, released in 2024, has ignited a new #MeToo movement within the industry.

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