The stance adopted by the Kerala government’s standing council in the actor assault case in the Supreme Court takes away one’s faith in the legal and justice system, Malayalam filmmaker Vidhu Vincent has written on her Facebook page. The Supreme Court had, on Friday, stayed the trial in the case after the state government asked for more time to answer the SC's query on whether the memory card with visuals of the assault is to be treated as material object or document.
Accused actor Dileep has been asking for the memory card, claiming that it would help prove his innocence.
“I cannot understand why this case is treated so lightly. This has disappointed many like me who have faith in the legal system of the country. This is not just the case of a colleague, it points to a situation that can come to any girl or woman in our society. Should the society understand that if you proceed with such a case, you will have to wait endlessly for the proceedings? It’s been two years since the case has come to the court and more time being asked to study it would only help those on the other side (the accused). Lawyers have pointed out that delaying the trial would help the accused,” Vidhu writes.
The basis of our respect for constitutional institutions is that in the end justice shall be served, Vidhu goes on. “The state government should make a serious intervention in the case. Any kind of indifference or carelessness would destroy the trust and hope that people have in democracy. The state government has the responsibility to answer why such a delay in the proceedings is happening,” she ends her note.
In February 2017, a prominent woman actor was assaulted in a moving car in Kochi, when she was on her way back from a shooting location. Actor Dileep was accused of masterminding the attack after a letter written to him by the prime accused Pulsar Suni came to light. Dileep was arrested and jailed for nearly three months after which he got bail and ever since then, the trial has been delayed, with the accused submitting one plea after another. In January 2018, Dileep approached a magistrate court to get access to all the evidence in the case, including the visuals of the assault, claiming it could prove his innocence. On rejection, he approached the Kerala High Court which had again turned down the request. In December last year, he went to the Supreme Court with the same plea. The state government had then filed an affidavit before the SC, stating that Dileep must not be given a copy of the video.