A Kerala court on Monday acquitted actor Dileep in the case pertaining to the abduction and sexual assault of a popular south Indian actress by a gang allegedly hired by him.

Ernakulam principal sessions judge Honey M. Varghese found accused number one to six guilty of gang rape and conspiracy. Four others, including Dileep, were found not guilty.

All 10 accused in the case were present in the court when the verdict was pronounced.

Dileep was the eighth accused in the case that rocked Kerala and led to serious repercussions in the Malayalam film industry — formation of Justice Hema committee to study problems faced by women in the film industry as well as formation of Women in Cinema Collective by a group of women film personalities.

The investigation and trial also witnessed many hurd

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