Malayalam Actress Abduction Case: Kerala HC Rejects Plea Seeking Transfer Of Trial

The Kerala High Court rejected a plea seeking transfer of trial in the case of a Malayalam actress' abduction and assault. Malayalam actor Dileep is the accused mastermind of the case. A bench of Justice VG Arun has rejected the pleas by the survivor and state prosecution to transfer the trial from the present court alleging bias on behalf of the judge. The alleged incident occurred in February 2017.

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"It goes without saying that unless the Court and the prosecutor work in sync it will result in either the guilty escaping from the clutches of law or the innocent being punished. I am confident in the endeavour to reach the truth and render justice, the Special Public Prosecutor and the defence lawyers will work in tandem as is expected of them. For the reasons mentioned above, I find no sustainable ground to allow the prayer for transfer. Consequently, the transfer petitions are dismissed," said the judge while dismissing the plea, reports Bar and Bench.

Kerala HC has also rejected prosecution's plea to stay the order for a week so that they could approach the Supreme Court, saying that allowing so " would not be proper".

The News Minute reported in October that the survivor had moved Kerala High Court to have case proceedings transferred out of the Additional Sessions Court in Ernakulam, alleging a "biased" and "hostile attitude".

What is the case?

In February 2017, a popular Malayalam actress was allegedly abducted and sexually assaulted by a gang of seven people. The gang had hijacked the actor’s car on the National Highway 544 near Parambayam, Nedumbassery, around 10 pm, while she was on her way to Kochi from a shoot in Thrissur. The main accused in the case was arrested a day after the incident.

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After the incident came to light, the actress took to social media in March to thank her supporters who had prayed for her safety. The actor accused of masterminding the alleged assault was subsequently arrested in July 2017. He was granted bail in October the same year.