​Endless ordeal: On the Kerala actor rape case Politics & News

Eight years after a prominent Malayalam woman actor was abducted and sexually assaulted in a moving car in Kochi, a trial court on December 8 convicted six men of gang rape, criminal conspiracy, wrongful confinement, and destruction of evidence, among other charges. On December 12, they were sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment. The court, however, acquitted actor Dileep and two others of all charges, including that of masterminding the conspiracy, citing insufficient evidence. The decision triggered widespread outrage, with activists decrying a disturbing pattern of powerful men dodging accountability in high-profile sexual violence cases. The survivor’s exemplary courage in pursuing justice galvanised civil society and many women in the industry. The incident also exposed deep-seated misogyny and machismo in Malayalam cinema. Women rallied behind the survivor but faced vicious online campaigns and denial of work. The Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA), controlled by men, unravelled under scrutiny; a group of resolute women formed the Women in Cinema Collective to demand a safer, more equitable workplace and endured professional boycott and cyber-bullying.

Very soon, the Kerala government constituted a committee under a retired High Court judge to examine gender issues in the industry. Its report, released after sustained pressure, catalysed further reform: women were elected to leadership positions in AMMA, Internal Complaints Committees became mandatory on film sets, and the government is now finalising a comprehensive policy to address film workplace safety and equality. The developments inspired demands from other regional film industries to follow suit. During the trial, the survivor repeatedly, but unsuccessfully, sought a change of judge, alleging bias during the prosecution held in-camera. She also raised serious concerns about tampering with crucial video evidence: its hash value had changed while in judicial custody, suggesting unauthorised access. Although the court convicted the direct perpetrators and confirmed a conspiracy, its failure to hold the alleged mastermind liable has eroded the survivor’s faith in the process. The Kerala government has rightly announced that it will appeal. Faced with rampant criticism, the judge, Honey M. Varghese, warned the media and others of contempt proceedings for casting aspersions on the court. Bringing all conspirators to justice is critical to reaffirming women’s confidence in the system and encouraging them to fearlessly report injustice. For the survivor, a thorough and transparent appellate process offers the only path to closure.