The survivor in the 2017 actress abduction and sexual assault case that shook Kerala has decided to move the High Court after the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court acquitted actor Dileep and other key accused in the case.
The ‘Avalkkoppam Legal Support Trust’, formed to support the survivor’s legal battle, stated that senior Supreme Court advocate Vrinda Grover will appear for the survivor.
FULL REPORT | How the actress rape case changed Kerala film industry forever
The trust alleged that the memory card containing visuals of the survivor was misused multiple times while in court custody and that its hash value had changed. ‘Avalkkoppam Legal Support Trust’‘Avalkkoppam Legal Support Trust’ stated that although the High Court had earlier ordered an investigation into the matter, the survivor believes the probe was not effective. In this context, a fresh writ petition will also be filed before the High Court, Manorama Online said in a report.
The Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) has also extended support to the survivor’s decision. Sharing the trust’s press release on social media, the WCC wrote: “Like-minded individuals have come together to support our colleague’s continued fight for justice and to raise financial assistance. The Women in Cinema Collective has always stood with the survivor, and we will continue to support all efforts to ensure justice.”
A legal team including advocates Bhadrakumari and J. Sandhya will assist Vrinda Grover. The ‘Avalkkoppam Legal Support Trust’ is being led by personalities including K. Ajitha, Deedi Damodaran, Bhagyalakshmi, Mercy Alexander, Joseph C. Mathew, Prakash Bare, Sonia George, and Baiju Merenikkunnu. The trust also shared a QR code for fundraising, stating that the legal battle is expensive and requires public support.
The actress was attacked on February 17, 2017. After years of trial proceedings, the trial court delivered its verdict on December 8, 2025. Ernakulam District and Principal Sessions Judge Honey M. Varghese delivered the verdict after completing the trial proceedings, which began in January 2020. Those found guilty are Sunil N. S. (alias Pulsar Suni), Martin Antony, Manikandan B., Vijesh V. P., Salim H., and Pradeep.
Along with Dileep, who was listed as the eighth accused, Charly Thomas, Sanil Kumar, and G. Sharath—the seventh, ninth, and tenth accused—have also been exonerated in the case.
A total of 261 witnesses were examined during the trial, including several from the film industry. Many actor-witnesses turned hostile. The investigation officer alone was examined for 109 days. The court admitted 834 documents and two defence witnesses.
The prosecution has already filed an appeal against the verdict, and now the survivor is also approaching the High Court.
