SC Stays Trial in Sexual Assault Case Against Malayalam Actor
The South actor was abducted and molested in 2017.
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The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the trial in the sexual assault case of of an actress, in which Malayalam actor Dileep is an accused. The trial will remain stayed until the proceedings in the Supreme Court are concluded.
Dileep had filed a petition in the court for access to the memory card that allegedly contains footage of the assault. According to Dileep, the visuals were concocted and would help him prove his innocence. The plea was earlier turned down by the Kerala High Court.
The Kerala government, which opposed Dileep’s plea, had requested the court to give some more time to confirm whether the card could be considered material evidence.
A two-judge Supreme Court bench said that they will take up the matter after the summer vacation in July. Senior lawyer Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Dileep, argued that the actor has a right to access all kinds of evidence that prosecution is producing against him.
The Kerala government has opposed Dileep’s plea for the copy of the visuals, and accused him of being the “chief conspirator.” The government's counsel observed there is no requirement under law to share all the material with the accused.
The South actor was abducted and assaulted in a moving car on 17 February , 2017. Dileep was arrested in July in the same year in connection with the case.
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