Supreme Court: Time Extended For Completion Of Trial; Actor Sexual Assault Case

The Supreme Court in the case P. Gopalkrishnan @ Dileep v. The State of Kerala observed and has extended the time for completion of trial in the Kerala actor abduction and sexual assault case.

The Division bench comprising of Justice Aniruddha Bose and Justice Bela M. Trivedi in the case observed and has granted the extension of time for completion of trial while directing that the proceedings be completed as expeditiously as possible.

In the present case, the order was passed by the said wherein allowing an extension application filed by the trial judge seeking time till 31.03.2024.

The counsel, Sr Adv Mukul Rohatgi appearing for Malayalam actor Dileep, who being the accused of hatching the criminal conspiracy, flagged delays in examination of witnesses and accusations being made against the trial judge.

The Apex Court in the case observed and has monitored the progress of the trial, receiving status reports from the trial judge from time to time. 

Therefore, the Apex Court directed that the trial be completed by July 31, 2023, thus, the court while taking note of the report sent by the Trial Judge on May 08, 2023.

The said application was filed as a Miscellaneous Application in the Special Leave Petition filed by the Actor in 2018 wherein seeking copy of the memory card.

The present matter relates to the kidnap and the sexual attack against a female actor in the outskirts of Kochi in February 2017. Further, Dileep is alleged to be the mastermind behind the crime and is facing trial for criminal conspiracy.

The Trial Court has allowed for further investigation in the case which being on the basis of fresh allegations raised by film director Balachandra Kumar in December 2021.