Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Friday directed the State government to place on record the progress made in five FIRs registered against media outlets for allegedly violating its embargo on reporting the in-camera trial in the 2017 Malayalam actress assault case.
The direction was issued by Justice C. Pratheep Kumar while hearing a petition by actor Dileep, the eighth accused in the case, who has alleged that certain media organisations breached the court’s prohibition on publishing, broadcasting or telecasting details of the trial proceedings. Dileep’s counsel pointed out that although the FIRs were registered in 2022 pursuant to the High Court’s January 18, 2022 order, there had been virtually no investigation since then.
At this stage, the court orally remarked that the original purpose of the petition had already been served, indicating that its prior directions had led to registration of the FIRs. However, Dileep’s lawyer contended that despite this, it was necessary for the criminal process to reach a logical and conclusive end, including a proper probe into the alleged violations by media outlets.
The public prosecutor requested more time to obtain detailed instructions from the investigating agencies on the present status of the FIRs. The High Court accordingly adjourned the matter to next week, when the State is expected to file an updated report.
Meanwhile, the Principal District and Sessions Court, Ernakulam, is scheduled to pronounce its judgment in the high-profile actress assault case on December 8, nearly eight years after the February 2017 abduction and sexual assault of a leading Malayalam actor in a moving vehicle on the outskirts of Kochi. Dileep is alleged to have conspired in the crime and is accused of hiring those who executed the assault, in a trial that has seen hundreds of witnesses, extensive forensic analysis and repeated disputes over evidence and media coverage.
(Inputs from IANS)