Actor Dileep has got his passport back after being acquitted in the 2017 Kerala actress assault case. The court’s decision ends years of legal restrictions, but questions and public outrage over the alleged planning still linger.
File Photo: IANS
Actor Dileep can now travel abroad freely as a court in Ernakulam on Thursday ordered the release of his passport. This comes after his acquittal in the high-profile 2017 assault case involving actress Bhavana.
Ernakulam District and Principal Sessions Court Judge Honey M Varghese passed the order following a petition filed by Dileep, who had surrendered his passport eight years ago after his arrest in connection with the case.
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While the prosecution initially opposed the petition, citing a potential appeal against the acquittal, no objections were raised during Thursday’s hearing.
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As a result, the court allowed Dileep to regain possession of his passport.
The incident in question dates back to February 17, 2017, when the actress was abducted and assaulted. On June 28, 2017, Dileep was questioned by Kerala Police over alleged involvement in the conspiracy. Less than two weeks later, he was arrested on July 10, 2017.
Film organisations moved quickly to distance themselves from Dileep and supported the survivor, revoking his memberships, while political parties staged protests.
Dileep’s legal battle stretched over eight years. He was initially granted conditional bail by the Kerala High Court in October 2017 and later filed multiple petitions challenging the investigation.
In June 2018, he asked the court to transfer the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), alleging that the Kerala Police had framed him. His pleas for access to video evidence of the assault were repeatedly denied by lower courts and the High Court.
In December 2021, director Balachandra Kumar claimed to have evidence that Dileep had tried to influence witnesses and intimidate police officers. This led to a fresh case against the actor. But he and other accused received anticipatory bail from the Kerala High Court in February 2022.
After years, the Ernakulam Principal District and Sessions Court delivered its final verdict on December 8, 2025. They acquitted Dileep of all charges related to the 2017 assault case.
The court had earlier convicted six others directly involved sentencing them to 20 years in prison. Four accused including Dileep were acquitted.
During the trial, the court had allowed Dileep to travel abroad occasionally for business and film promotions. He had earlier surrendered his passport as part of bail conditions. With the recent order, he is now free to travel without restrictions.
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