Why Was Dileep Acquitted? Court Explains in 300-Page Order
Kochi: The detailed verdict copy in the high-profile actress assault case has been released, shedding light on the reasons behind the acquittal of actor Dileep. The order unequivocally states that the prosecution completely failed to substantiate the conspiracy charges leveled against Dileep.
The court observed that the initial arrest of Dileep, who was the eighth accused in the case, was not erroneous, as it was based on information available at the time. However, the judgment clarifies that the prosecution could not establish any conspiracy between Dileep and the first accused, Pulsar Suni.
The comprehensive judgment spans 1711 pages, with a significant 300 pages dedicated to elucidating the reasons for Dileep’s acquittal. The court did not mince words in criticizing the prosecution’s shortcomings. It highlighted that the evidence presented was insufficient to prove the existence of a conspiracy. Furthermore, the court found no concrete evidence against Dileep, despite the prosecution labeling him as the ‘master conspirator’. Crucially, the prosecution failed to provide sufficient proof that a conspiracy was hatched with Pulsar Suni at Dileep’s residence.
A makeup artist’s testimony claiming to have seen Pulsar Suni near Dileep’s house was dismissed by the court as inconclusive evidence for a conspiracy. Similarly, the prosecution’s assertion that Pulsar Suni was present on several of Dileep’s film sets did not hold weight, as the court pointed out that the first accused himself is a film worker, and his presence on set therefore does not automatically imply a conspiracy.
Adding to its criticisms, the court also targeted the investigation team. It rejected the team’s finding that Dileep had allegedly given money at three different locations, stating that the prosecution failed to produce any digital evidence to support these verbal testimonies.
The court meticulously enumerated several failures on the part of the investigation team. It noted a significant time gap between the alleged conspiracy in 2013 and the actual crime in 2017. The court also questioned how Dileep continued to use his phone even after his arrest, an aspect for which the police could not provide a satisfactory explanation. The prosecution further failed to prove Dileep’s involvement in the creation of a WhatsApp group named ‘Dileepine Poottanam’ (Lock up Dileep). The court underscored that the prosecution could not even establish that a conspiracy occurred as early as 2013.
The judgment also highlighted the investigation team’s failure to accurately track Pulsar Suni’s whereabouts across various cases between 2013 and 2017. Despite the prosecution’s argument that Suni had gone into hiding during this period, he had made court appearances for certain criminal cases and was even acquitted in one. The court’s order concluded by emphasizing that when allegations of conspiracy are made, the investigation team bears the responsibility to thoroughly probe the accused’s location, actions, and overall conduct during the alleged period.