Kochi- In a verdict that has reignited fury across Kerala and beyond, the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court on Monday acquitted Malayalam superstar Dileep of criminal conspiracy charges in the infamous 2017 actress abduction and sexual assault case, while convicting six other accused for their direct roles in the heinous crime. Meanwhile, as per news reports the Kerala Govt is set to go for an appeal against the sessions court verdict in the actor assault case. The govt has reiterated that it firmly stands with the survivor.

The decision, delivered on December 8, by Special Judge Honey M. Varghese after an eight-year trial involving 261 witnesses, has sparked a massive wave of solidarity on social media under the hashtag #Avalkoppam- "With Her" in Malayalamled by actresses, feminists, and activists decrying the acquittal as a failure of justice for the survivor.

As Dileep celebrated his vindication by blaming a "conspiracy", the online campaign has trended nationwide, amplifying calls for accountability in film industry and women's safety.

The case, dubbed India's first "rape contract" scandal, stemmed from the February 17, 2017, abduction of a prominent Malayalam actress in Kochi. She was abducted by a six-member gang, driven around in a car for two hours, and sexually assaulted by prime accused N.S. Sunil alias Pulsar Suni, who also filmed the attack on his phone.

Prosecutors alleged Dileep, the eighth accused, masterminded the assault as revenge after the actress reportedly informed his then-wife, Manju Warrier, about his extramarital affair with co-star Kavya Madhavan. Digital evidence, including CCTV footage and communications, formed the backbone of the prosecution's case against Dileep for conspiracy, evidence tampering, and abetment.

Court Verdict: Acquittal for Dileep, Convictions for six

After over five years of trial proceedings that began on January 30, 2020, Judge Honey Varghese ruled that the prosecution failed to prove the conspiracy charges against Dileep beyond reasonable doubt, citing insufficient direct evidence linking him to the plot. However, the court held the first six accused fully accountable: Pulsar Suni was convicted of rape under Section 376 of the IPC, alongside charges of abduction (Section 364A), unlawful confinement, and criminal intimidation. His co-accused- Martin Antony, B. Manikandan, V.P. Vijeesh, H. Salim (Vadival Salim) and Pradeep were also found guilty of aiding the abduction and assault. Two other accused turned approvers earlier, reducing the total on trial to 10, but the remaining three were also acquitted alongside Dileep. The quantum of sentence for the convicted six will be pronounced on December 12, with prosecutors pushing for the "rarest of rare" classification given the brutality of the attack.

Dileep's Jubilant Response: Blames 'Conspiracy' Involving Ex-Wife Manju Warrier

Malayalam actor Dileep shared his first public reaction after being pronounced not guilty in the case. Following the verdict, Dileep told the media, "Thank you to those who supported me, thank you to all those who stood by me for 9 years."

"Truth has won today. The false story created by the police has finally fallen apart," he said, his voice steady but laced with bitterness. He directly targeted his ex-wife Manju Warrier, alleging the "real conspiracy" against him began when she "claimed something that wasn't true" about his personal life, fueling the plot to implicate him. "It was done to destroy me professionally and personally. But I am deeply indebted to all the lawyers who defended me for nine years, and to everyone who stood by me, prayed for me," Dileep added, thanking fans and well-wishers.

#Avalkoppam: A Digital Uprising of Solidarity for the Survivor

Hours before the pronouncement of the verdict, the Women in Cinema collective (WCC) had issued their statement: "This has not been an easy journey. The journey of being a victim to becoming a survivor." 3215 days of waiting for justice. Her fight has unleashed many tumultuous journeys for women in cinema, the Malayalam film industry and the state of Kerala. The impact has rippled through our collective conscience and voices have risen for change. Much has to be said for the courage and resilience she has shown through it all, while upholding her faith in the system. Her fight is for every survivor. We stand by her, and every survivor who is watching, in solidarity. #Avalkoppam"

The acquittal triggered an immediate backlash, propelling #Avalkoppam to the top of social media trends within hours. Revived from its 2017 origins, when it first surged as a feminist hashtag meaning "With Her" to support the survivor amid slut-shaming and threats, the campaign now symbolizes defiance against perceived judicial leniency toward powerful men. Actresses from Malayalam cinema, members of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), and pan-India feminists have flooded social media with messages of unwavering support, framing the verdict as a setback for #MeToo in the South Indian film industry.

Actress Rima Kallingal wrote on Instagram: "Always . More stronger than ever , now".

Parvathy Thiruvothu, a prominent member of WCC, took to social media to share her anger against the verdict. Justice What? And now we watch a carefully crafted screenplay unfold so cruelly now,' she wrote.

The Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), which was the first film body in Malayalam cinema to expel Dileep in 2017, issued a statement saying it respects the court's verdict. Actress Remya Nambeesan, one of the prominent voices of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), also expressed her support for the survivor by sharing the message 'Avalkoppam'.

Before the verdict, actor-director Revathy Asha reminded the public that it was the survivor's courage to speak out that gave the case its momentum. Revathy noted that the survivor had to recount her ordeal more than a hundred times as she stood in the witness box, and that she had filed an FIR on the very first day.

Singer and voice actor Chinmayi Sripaada expressed her support for the survivor is an x post: " Whichever way this verdict today - I stand with the survivor. Always. Girl, you are a Hero, you have been and always will be. I hope all those who pretended to stand for you and changed their statements in Court when it mattered, including the women - get what they deserve."

Film Critic & Feminist Author Anna MM Vetticad live tweeted: "I'm tracking news coming in of the verdict in the #Kerala actor assault case, including #Dileep's statement. She also posted the Avalkoppam poster.

Assault to Inquiry: The 2017 Case Forced Kerala's Hema Committee Formation

The 2017 abduction and sexual assault of the Malayalam actress sent shockwaves through Kerala, igniting widespread outrage that not only led to the swift arrest of the prime accused, including Pulsar Suni, but also emboldened other women in the industry to break their silence on systemic exploitation and harassment. Under mounting pressure from the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) and public demands for reform, the Kerala government in November 2017 constituted a three-member committee headed by retired Kerala High Court judge Justice K. Hema, alongside cinematographer Sheeba and actress Sarika, to probe issues like unequal pay, unsafe shooting conditions, and the overall working environment for women in Malayalam cinema.

Over two years, the panel interviewed over 200 industry stakeholders, unearthing a deeply patriarchal ecosystem rife with sexual harassment, casting couch demands, verbal abuse, and rampant substance abuse on sets; one actress recounted how a scripted scene requiring mere back exposure morphed into unsolicited lip-locks and explicit improvisations, while others described enduring lewd comments and mistreatment as normalized.

The 290-page report was submitted to the government on December 31, 2019, but Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's administration suppressed its release for nearly five years, citing privacy concerns, until persistent RTI pleas from journalists and activists culminated in a Kerala High Court order on August 13, 2024, lifting a temporary stay and paving the way for its public disclosure on August 19, 2024, with redactions to protect witnesses, thereby exposing the industry's "dark underbelly" and fueling the ongoing #MeToo resurgence in Mollywood.