Manju Warrier Says ‘Justice For The Survivor Is Still Incomplete’ After Dileep’s Acquittal in 2017 Assault Case
Malayalam cinema witnessed a wave of strong reactions after actor Dileep was acquitted in the high-profile 2017 sexual assault case involving a fellow woman actor.
While the court verdict brought legal relief to Dileep, it also reopened painful questions about justice, accountability, and support for survivors.
Among the most prominent voices to respond was Dileep’s former wife, actor Manju Warrier, who expressed deep concern over the outcome of the case and said that justice for the survivor remains “incomplete.
Manju Warrier took to Instagram on Sunday to share a carefully worded yet powerful statement.
While she began by expressing her respect for the judiciary, she made it clear that she was disturbed by the larger implications of the acquittal.
“I have the utmost respect for the Honourable Court,” she wrote. “But in this case, justice for the survivor is still incomplete.”
Manju stated that while those who physically carried out the crime have been punished, the larger conspiracy behind the crime has not been fully addressed.
According to her, those who may have planned, enabled, or mentally orchestrated the assault have not been held accountable.
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“The mind that planned and enabled this heinous act, whoever that may be, still walks free, and that is terrifying,” she said. “Justice will be complete only when everyone behind this crime is held accountable.”
In her statement, Manju Warrier also widened the scope of her message, stressing that the issue goes beyond one individual or one case.
She dedicated her words to women and survivors everywhere, highlighting the importance of safety, dignity, and courage in everyday life.
“This is not just for one survivor,” she wrote. “This is for every girl, every woman, every human being who deserves to walk with courage, head held high, without fear in their workplaces, on the streets, and in life.”
She ended her note with a strong expression of solidarity: “With her. Then, now, and always.
Following his acquittal, Dileep addressed the media and claimed that he had been falsely implicated in the case.
He alleged that there was a deliberate conspiracy to frame him and said that he was, in fact, the “real victim”.
Dileep also accused Manju Warrier of playing a role in what he described as a conspiracy against him.
He claimed that it was Manju who first suggested that there was a criminal conspiracy involved in the case, and that this later turned against him.
“It was done to destroy my career, image, and life in society,” Dileep told reporters. “That was when the conspiracy against me began.”
The case dates back to February 17, 2017, when a prominent woman actor from the Malayalam film industry was abducted and sexually assaulted.
According to the prosecution, a group of men forcibly entered her car, held her captive for nearly two hours, and recorded the assault.
Ten people were accused in the case. Dileep was arrested in July 2017 on allegations that he had paid the attackers to carry out and record the assault.
The prosecution argued that the crime was motivated by personal animosity, claiming that the survivor had earlier informed Manju Warrier about Dileep’s alleged relationship with another actor, which reportedly led to tensions between Dileep and the survivor in 2016.
The trial concluded on November 25, and the verdict was delivered by Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court Judge Honey M Varghese on December 12.
Of the ten accused, six, including prime accused Sunil (Pulsar Suni) were found guilty.
Dileep and three others were acquitted due to lack of sufficient evidence linking them directly to the crime.
