Kerala Actor Assault Survivor Voices Deep Disappointment Over Trial Court Verdict

Thiruvananthapuram: The survivor of the high-profile 2017 actor abduction and rape case in Kerala posted a detailed critique on social media on Sunday, conveying her significant disillusionment with the trial court’s decision delivered last week.

In her post, which recounts the challenges she faced in seeking justice, the survivor stated that she and the prosecution had observed shifts in the case management as early as 2020, particularly regarding one specific accused. She noted that the outcome, while potentially surprising to others, aligned with her growing suspicions.

“After enduring years of suffering, tears, and emotional turmoil, I have painfully concluded that not all citizens receive equal treatment under the law in this country,” she wrote. The verdict, she added, underscored the influence of human judgment on legal outcomes and reminded her that courts do not operate uniformly.

The survivor outlined several factors that eroded her confidence in the trial process. She emphasized that her fundamental rights were not adequately safeguarded, pointing to the key evidence—a memory card—that was illegally accessed three times during its time in court custody. Two public prosecutors withdrew from the case, citing a hostile atmosphere toward the prosecution and warning her privately that bias might prevent a fair outcome.

She repeatedly sought a thorough probe into the memory card tampering but received the investigation report only after persistent requests. The survivor also questioned why the accused petitioned for the same judge to continue handling the matter while she advocated for impartiality. In response to her concerns, she appealed to the President of India and the Prime Minister for intervention and asked for open court proceedings to allow public and media scrutiny, a request that was rejected.

Despite her criticisms, the survivor expressed gratitude for the conviction of six accused individuals. She addressed circulating online rumors, describing some as part of orchestrated campaigns, and clarified misconceptions, such as claims that one accused was her personal driver—he was merely assigned temporarily for a film project in 2016, with minimal prior contact.

The case, involving serious allegations against multiple individuals, has drawn widespread attention in Kerala.