Final hearing in Kerala actor rape case begins

The final hearing in the trial of the Kerala actor rape case is set to begin at the Ernakulam District Sessions Court here on Wednesday (December 11, 2024).

The court, which is racing against the deadline set by the Supreme Court, had been carrying out the daily hearing of the case for months together. The court had recently concluded the examination of the accused in the case under Section 313 of the Criminal Procedure Code where the accused would be offered the opportunity to come up with their explanations about the evidence adduced by the prosecution against them. The examination, which began on September 13, lasted for over two months and concluded on November 25. The defence, which was then offered the opportunity to bring in their evidence, used six days for the purpose.

N. S. Sunil, the first accused in the case, who was in custody for more than seven years, was released on bail after the Supreme Court ruled in his favour. The eight other accused in the case include Martin Antony, B. Manikandan, V. P. Vijeesh, H. Salim, Pradeep, Charly Thomas, and Sanilkumar. Actor Dileep, the eighth accused in the case, has been charged with the offence of conspiracy.

Plea against former DGP R. Sreelekha

Meanwhile, the counsel for the survivor in the case has moved a contempt of court petition against former DGP R. Sreelekha following her interview on a YouTube channel where she reportedly absolved Mr. Dileep of any wrongdoing and even claimed that there was no evidence against him.

T. B. Mini, the counsel for the survivor felt that the interview was a deliberate attempt to obstruct the course of justice.

Ms. Sreelekha could not be reached for a response.

The prosecution case is that the actor was abducted and raped by the accused in a moving car on February 17, 2017

Incidentally, the survivor had reportedly written to the President seeking action against those who illegally accessed the memory card in which the alleged rape was recorded. She complained that no action was taken against those who illegally accessed the memory card. No information was available on any action taken on the administrative complaint seeking legal action against the culprits, which was filed before the Chief Justices of the Supreme Court and the Kerala High Court in January this year, she reportedly complained.

The actor reportedly pointed out that judicial officers and staff of courts committed theft of the memory card kept in the chest of the court and illegally accessed, copied, and transmitted, the visuals of sexual assault and thus violated her fundamental rights.