New Delhi: The Supreme Court has been informed by the Kerala government that actor Dileep is allegedly attempting to obstruct and delay the trial in the high-profile case involving the assault of an actress. The state has accused Dileep of working to undermine the prosecution’s evidence and prolong the trial indefinitely.
In a sworn affidavit, the Kerala government highlighted that Dileep’s legal team has engaged in extensive cross-examinations of key witnesses, contributing to significant delays. Among those cross-examined are investigation officer Baiju Paulose for 87 days, filmmaker Balachandra Kumar for 35 days, and cyber forensic experts for additional weeks. The survivor herself was cross-examined for seven days.
The affidavit also noted that many of the accused, including Dileep, frequently fail to attend court hearings, with their absence justified through leave applications filed by Dileep’s legal representatives. The state fears that these tactics could stretch the trial further by another month.
In the same affidavit, Kerala warned that granting bail to the first accused, Pulsar Suni, could jeopardize the survivor’s privacy, as there is a risk that sensitive visual evidence could be leaked. The state has urged the Supreme Court to reject Suni’s bail plea, arguing that such a move could disrupt the trial and pose a threat to the survivor’s safety.
The Supreme Court is set to deliberate on the matter of Suni’s bail on Tuesday.
