It took eight long years for Kerala’s criminal justice system to complete the investigation, trial, and pronouncement of verdict in the sensational abduction and sexual assault case involving actor Dileep and 10 others. When Ernakulam Principal District and Sessions Judge Honey M. Varghese finally delivered her judgement one of the most keenly awaited in recent memory her verdict left both relief and bewilderment in its wake. While six accused were convicted of grave offences, including conspiracy, sexual assault, disrobing, and filming the victim, Dileep and four others were acquitted. The contradiction at the heart of the judgement is hard to ignore. The court faulted the prosecution for failing to establish........

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