What a blow?

Over eight years after the traumatic incident and nearly five years since the start trial, the long-awaited verdict in the 2017 actor abduction and sexual assault case was delivered this morning. The prosecution has established beyond doubt that the crime had indeed taken place.

The victim was abducted by a six-member gang and raped by first accused 'Pulsar Suni' inside a moving car in Ernakulam  on 17 Feb 2017. He had recorded the brutal assault on his mobile phone.

The primary conspiracy was between Pulsar Suni and actor Dileep to record the videos of the sexual assault in order to defame and demoralise the victim.

The following are the vagaries of this case during investigation :-

 * the chief minister, on the day after the crime was committed, had, in a press statement stated that

    there was no conspiracy in the case. When did he become a sleuth or attain police-like qualities

    is that what has defied my logic and understanding because by saying that, he'd passed on a clear

    diktat to the investigation team as to how they must go about it. Dileep, had strutted around among

    the CPM crowd to show his political background!

 * the case was the first time in the history of criminal law that a "quotation" had been issued for

    committing rape

 * to this day, the original phone and memory card have not been recovered

 * in a disclosure in 2022, it was revealed that the memory card had been tampered with while in

    court's custody

 * Mahesh Mohan, senior clerk of the Principal and Sessions Court (now an HC judge) and Tajudeen,

    then sheristadar of the trial court, Ernakulam, had accessed the card. Further action on the report 

    remains pending

 * Former police officer, R Sreelekha made statements in favour of Dileep, claiming he was innocent

    and falsely implicated

 * the victim had petitioned the HC, blaming trial court judge - Honey M Varghese - of bias and

    harbouring hostile attitude

 * two prosecutors resigned and the third stepped down raising objections to allegedly derogatory 

    remarks made by the judge

 * three of the accused turned approvers

 * the cross-examination of the investigating officer, Baiju lasted eight months and seven days. The

    Supreme Court expressed concern over the extended process.

 * 28 witnesses, including actors, turned hostile

Just by going through the vagaries listed above, it's amply clear that Dileep had obstructed justice

and delayed proceedings to suit his case by intimidating witnesses!

The blighter hasn't understood that the general public has already seen him as a "villain" and has ensured that all his movies that were released during the pendency of the case had bombed at the box office!

My take

The case must be reopened as quickly as possible in the higher court to ensure a speedy and fair trial to ensure that the fraud is punished suitably for the crime he has committed! I feel sad at today's outcome.

Tailpiece.

Our day started at 4, this morning, the chores. We kicked off at a half past 5, with Kannan in a cab and reached Sreekanth Mallan, at Muhamma for Lekha's dental appointment. After the proceedings were over, we returned to The Quarterdeck by a quarter to 5, in the evening.