Dileep acquitted, the trial court in Kerala has dismissed allegations made by actress Manju Warrier, who claimed that the actor harbored resentment toward the survivor in the 2017 actor abduction and assault case. The court found inconsistencies in her statements and ruled that there was no substantial evidence to prove Dileep’s alleged enmity or involvement.
Manju Warrier, Dileep’s former wife, had testified that she believed Dileep was angry with the survivor. However, the court noted that her version of events contained contradictions and lacked independent corroboration. Her social media post following the verdict expressed disappointment: “The fact that those who planned it, whoever they may be, are still out in the open is a frightening reality,” she wrote.
Manju Warrier’s testimony
Manju told the court that in February 2012, she had come across private messages between Dileep and actress Kavya Madhavan, which made her suspect an extramarital affair. She claimed she tried to contact both Dileep and Kavya, along with Kavya’s mother, but received no satisfactory answers.
According to her deposition, Manju discussed her concerns with singer Rimi Tomy and fellow actors Geethu Mohandas and Samyukta Varma. On February 14, 2012, accompanied by Geethu and Samyukta, she visited the survivor’s residence, where the survivor’s emotional reaction allegedly reinforced her suspicions. Manju later confronted Dileep, who dismissed her concerns and described the survivor as “immature.” These events, she said, eventually led to the dissolution of her marriage in 2015.
Court’s findings
The trial court, however, concluded that Manju’s statements contained major discrepancies when cross-checked with her earlier remarks to police. Her initial statements did not mention reaching out to Kavya, her mother, or the survivor on the dates she later cited. Additionally, witnesses such as Geethu Mohandas and Rimi Tomy could not fully support her version, while Kavya Madhavan categorically denied any inappropriate relationship with Dileep or hostility toward the survivor.
With no conclusive proof of any enmity or affair, the court ruled out the claims as unsubstantiated.
Verdict and aftermath
As a result, the court rejected Manju Warrier’s deposition, and Dileep was acquitted of the charges. The verdict marks a pivotal moment in one of Kerala’s most sensational legal battles, reigniting debate around celebrity accountability, witness credibility, and the complexity of high-profile trials in the Indian film industry.
Despite the acquittal, the case remains a defining episode in Kerala’s cinematic and legal history, continuing to spark public discussion and scrutiny within the Malayalam film community.
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