Will Dileep's Acquittal Haunt CPM Like Jisha's Death Boosted Them? Justice's Boomerang in Kerala's 2026 Polls

Kochi – In 2016, a young woman's brutal rape and murder shook Kerala to its core. Her name was Jisha, a 30-year-old law student from a poor Dalit family. Her death wasn't just a crime– it became a battle cry. Angry protests filled the streets, and women voters turned that rage into votes, handing the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) a big win in the state elections.

The backlash against the then-Chief Minister Oommen Chandy's Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government was swift and searing, with CPI(M) politburo heavyweight Pinarayi Vijayan thundering, "It has come to a stage that women are now no longer safe in their homes. The police here are not allowed to do their job and the state government is also not doing anything."

In Thiruvananthapuram, women journalists marched through the capital, urging faster police action, while women's rights activist Ginakumari slammed the probe as "soft and silent," adding, "There has been a violation of Justice Verma Commission guidelines... It's five days since the incident took place and nothing seems to be happening." Even the CPI(M)'s students' wing hit the streets, storming a local police station in a fury over the delays, turning Jisha's tragedy into a major flashpoint that hammered the Chandy regime on women's safety failures.

Fast forward nine years, and another shocking court decision has people talking. On December 8, popular actor Dileep was cleared of charges in the 2017 kidnapping and assault of a fellow actress. Fans cheered, but many others – from opposition leaders to movie stars and women's groups – are furious.

"This isn't justice," actor Parvathy Thiruvothu wrote online, using the hashtag #Avalkoppam, or "with her," to show support for the victim. The judge who made the call? Honey M. Varghese, daughter of a top CPM leader. Opposition voices like KPCC President and MLA Sunny Joseph said the verdict was not satisfactory. He stated that the prosecution had failed in arguing and proving the case. The inability to establish the conspiracy charge, he said, reflected failures both in the police investigation and in the prosecution's presentation before the court.

Women's rights groups, including the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), feel let down and promise to keep fighting. Even in the film world, where Dileep was once a big name, actors like Rima Kallingal and Remya Nambeesan are standing strong with the survivor. It's a messy mix of old wounds and new doubts – and Kerala is watching closely.

How Jisha's Story Powered a Political Shift in 2016

The FIR filed on 29th April 2016 at Kuruppambady Police Station stated that, Jisha, a 30 year old law student was found dead at her residence near Periyarvallley canal in Perumbavoor, Ernakulam. The body was found by the deceased's mother and neighbours who rushed to her home after hearing the screams from the mother. The front door of the house was locked from inside. The sub inspector, who was on patrol duty, entered through the back door which was found ajar. The body lied inside the middle room half naked and bleeding heavily. Multiple stab wounds were present in the body and it was disembowed. The police gathered evidences from the scene. The body was sent to postmortem and was found to have 38 wounds. The deceased was likely to be raped and suffered injuries during struggles against these attempts. The body also showed signs of strangulation. The cause of death was determined as combined effects of strangulation, smothering and bleeding. Based on the report, the postmortem doctor, Dr. Liza John, confirmed the evidences of a sexual assault.

Jisha's classmates from law college hit the streets first, demanding answers. The #JusticeForJisha tag blew up on social media, mixing grief with fury over how the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government had let crimes against women slide. Think about it: Kerala boasts high literacy and women's rights on paper, but cases like this exposed cracks – especially for Dalit women like Jisha from the Pulaya community. Protests grew, with Dalit groups calling out caste bias and everyone pointing fingers at police delays.

This hit right before the May 2016 assembly elections. The LDF, under Pinarayi Vijayan, grabbed the moment. At rallies, Vijayan blasted the UDF: "Crimes like this happen because goons run free under them. We'll make Kerala safe for every woman." Surveys showed women – key voters – shifting toward LDF, fed up with scandals like bar bribes and fake loans that dogged Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. When votes came in, LDF won 91 of 140 seats, kicking out the UDF after 17 years. The incumbent UDF front was defeated and was reduced to 47 seats. Analysts later said Jisha's case was a game-changer, turning personal pain into public power. "It was raw anger at the ballot box," one report put it.

The new government moved fast to show they meant business. The accused Ameer-ul-Islam was arrested by the Kerala Police and was charged for murder and rape under IPC by the Ernakulam Session court on 12 December 2017 and was sentenced to life imprisonment. The sentence was reformed by Kerala High Court to capital punishment on 20 May 2024, becoming the first case to receive capital punishment in Kerala after the infamous Ripper Chandran case. This sparked several controversies and led way to new laws in the nation regarding woman safety.

Jisha's family got cash help: ₹10 lakh and a proper house. Stars like Mammootty chipped in too. CPI(M)'s Brinda Karat called it "victory for the people." But some wondered: Did politics turn a tragedy into a tool? That win? It was built on women's trust in LDF's promise of safety.

The Dileep Case: A Plot Twist That Stings

Just a year later, in February 2017, another assault rocked the headlines – this time in the glitzy world of Malayalam cinema. A famous actress was driving in Kochi when thugs in a van grabbed her. They held her for hours, raped her, filmed it, and let her go. The twist? Prosecutors said Dileep, a top actor, planned it all. Why? Bad blood with the victim, who had revealed his extra marital affair with another heroine to his then wife Manju Warrier which led to the divorce between the couple. He supposedly paid ₹1.5 crore to the gang, led by Pulsar Suni, to grab the video for blackmail.

Dileep got arrested, spent time in jail, lost his union spot, and saw movies tank. Many in the industry did not support the survivor, leading to the establishment of the WCC, which has since advocated for women's rights in cinema and called out systemic issues. During the 2017 Kerala State Film Awards, the WCC launched the #Avalkkoppam campaign in response to industry support for Dileep, further cementing its position as an advocate for survivors within the Malayalam film industry.

But yesterday, in Ernakulam's main sessions court, Judge Honey M. Varghese said "not guilty." She ruled the proof against him. The six others who did the attack were pronounced guilty. Dileep said outside: "Truth won after eight long years. The police team took the prime accused into confidence and then created a story to harm me and destroy my future.” Fans partied with sweets . Honey M. Varghese's name is everywhere now, and not in a good way. She's daughter to M.M. Varghese, a big CPM shot – former Thrissur district secretary and state committee member.

During the trial, she faced scrutiny over perceived biases, allegations of concealing a 2020 forensic report related to assault footage, and questions of political influence. None of these resulted in formal findings against her.

During the trial, the survivor repeatedly petitioned the Kerala High Court and Supreme Court to transfer the case, citing distress however, her requests were not granted.

The Kerala government will file an appeal against the verdict of the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court in the actor rape and abduction case, Law Minister P. Rajeev said. He added that the survivor didn't get complete justice through the present verdict.

"Though those who were directly involved in the crime were found guilty by the court, it was not the verdict everyone expected," he told reporters here, shortly after the court acquitted the actor in the case.

"The state government has always stood strongly with the survivor, and that will be continued," the minister said.