Kochi, 07 December(HS): The Ernakulam District Sessions Court will pronounce on Monday the verdict in the kidnap and rape case that took place in 2017, in which the superstar of Malayalam films Dilip is the eighth accused.

The victim, a prominent actress, was on her way to the dubbing studio in Kochi from her residence in central Kerala when a gangster by the name Suni and his henchmen kidnapped her and subjected her to brutal rape.

The prosecution's case is that actor Dilip (whose real name is Gopalakrishnan) had given contract of raping the actress to his friend Suni, also known as Pulsar Suni (due to his passion for a motorcycle by that name).

Suni and his henchmen not only kidnapped and raped her but also filmed the video of the act and sent the same to Dilip. The superstar had some personal issues to settle with her and the contract of kidnapping and rape was a part of the “settlement”.

The Malayalam film industry was in for a shock, and the organisation representing the actors and actresses (Association of Malayalam Movie Artists) held a meeting the next day to express their solidarity with the lady star.

Interestingly, Dilip was one of the speakers in this meeting and delivered a heartrending speech.

Though the crime took place in 2017, it took more than eight years for trial. The hearing came to a grinding halt many times because of the statements filed by Dilip challenging the legality of making him an accused in the case.

Though he claimed that he never knew who Suni was, many witnesses gave corroborating evidence to establish the camaraderie between the two. Many film personalities including stars who had supported the actress, turned hostile during the trial. But there were many stars including Manju Warrier, who was dumped by Dilip after eight years of married life to marry another artist by the name Kavya Madhavan, stood their ground and believed to have given statements to the court substantiating Dilip’s role in the heinous crime.

Meanwhile, AMMA expelled Dilip from its primary membership, while the producers’ and exhibitors’ associations too followed suit as the superstar was a leading producer and owner of many cinema houses across the State. Dilip also owns a network of eateries across the State and reportedly owns spas and restaurants in West Asian countries.

Hindusthan Samachar / Manohar Yadavatti