Women judge for actress assault case

The Kerala High Court has appointed a woman judge for the trial of the sexual assault case of a leading South Indian actress in which actor Dileep is one of the main accused.

The high court also directed that the trial should be completed by the CBI special court in Kochi preferably in nine months time. CBI special court judge Honey M Varghese would be hearing the case.

The HC issued the orders considering a plea by the victim actress. Though Dileep and other key accused opposed it, the court rejected their contentions.

The prosecution case is that the actress was abducted by a gang of seven led by the key accused 'Pulsar' Suni and sexually abused her in a moving vehicle in Kochi on February 17, 2017. Pictures of the crime were also allegedly taken by the accused using a mobile phone.

Dileep was arraigned in the case on charges conspiring the crime to settle personal scores with the actress. He was arrested and even kept in prison under remand for about 85 days and was later released on bail.

Though Dileep had earlier approached the court seeking a CBI probe into the case, it was rejected by the court.