SC extends trial time in Kerala actor assault case

New Delhi

The Supreme Court, in the case P. Gopalkrishnan @ Dileep v. The State of Kerala, has extended the time for the completion of the trial in the Kerala actor abduction and sexual assault case. The Division Bench comprising Justice Aniruddha Bose and Justice Bela M. Trivedi granted the extension, directing that the proceedings be completed as expeditiously as possible.
In the present case, the court allowed an extension application filed by the trial judge, seeking time until March 31, 2024. Sr Adv Mukul Rohatgi, counsel for Malayalam actor Dileep, who is accused of orchestrating the criminal conspiracy, highlighted delays in the examination of witnesses and accusations against the trial judge.
The Apex Court has been monitoring the progress of the trial, receiving status reports from the trial judge periodically. The court has now directed that the trial be completed by July 31, 2023, after considering a report sent by the Trial Judge on May 8, 2023.
This extension was filed as a Miscellaneous Application in the Special Leave Petition initiated by the actor in 2018, where he sought a copy of the memory card.
The case pertains to the kidnapping and sexual assault of a female actor on the outskirts of Kochi in February 2017. Dileep is alleged to be the mastermind behind the crime and is currently facing trial for criminal conspiracy.
The Trial Court has allowed further investigation based on fresh allegations raised by film director Balachandra Kumar in December 2021.