He claimed the case began when his former spouse, actress Manju Warrier, publicly suggested the crime was part of a larger conspiracy.
After the court cleared him of all charges in the 2017 actress assault and abduction case, Dileep broke his long silence. He stood before the media and supporters and said plainly: “Thank you to those who supported me, thank you to all those who stood by me for 9 years.” He described the case against him as a “cooked-up story.”
He claimed the case began when his former spouse, actress Manju Warrier, publicly suggested the crime was part of a larger conspiracy. That statement, Dileep said, triggered what he called a chain of events that led to his being named the eighth accused.
The actor accused parts of the police force of orchestrating the case against him. He said a senior police officer and his associates “implemented things” by gathering the key accused and pushing a narrative that tied him to the crime. He further alleged that media — traditional and social — helped spread that narrative, damaging his reputation.
According to him, those allegations “failed in court.” He insisted the real motive behind framing him was to “destroy my image and life.”
On Monday, the court ruled that the prosecution failed to prove Dileep’s involvement beyond a reasonable doubt. With that, the nearly nine-year legal battle ended for him. Meanwhile, six others — including the main accused Pulsar Suni — were found guilty of abduction, sexual assault, gang rape and related charges.
The verdict triggered widespread reactions in the film industry and public circles. Some welcomed the verdict, while others cautioned that social accountability and survivors’ voices still matter despite legal outcomes.
Dileep thanked his lawyers, especially senior advocate B Raman Pillai, his supporters, and well-wishers for standing by him through the grueling trial. He expressed relief that the court found the story against him to be false. He said, “The real conspiracy was to make me an accused. It was done to destroy my career.”
He insisted that this chapter is over now — but acknowledged the personal and professional toll it took.
The case had earlier triggered intense scrutiny of workplace safety, harassment, and power dynamics in the Malayalam film industry. Many had hailed the court's recognition of evidence and conviction of the actual assailants.
Yet Dileep’s acquittal — along with his strong allegations against investigating agencies and media — has reignited debates on consent, justice, accountability outside and inside courts, and trust in institutions.
For Dileep, the verdict offers a legal closure. For many others — including the survivor and supporters of justice reforms — the case remains a reference point for systemic change in film industry practices and societal attitudes.
