The Kerala High Court on Monday questioned actor Dileep about how he had been impacted by media reports on the 2017 actress assault case, in which he was named an accused [P Gopalakrishnan @ Dileep v State of Kerala & Ors.]
Dileep had approached the Court in 2022, alleging that news channel Reporter TV and other media outlets had violated restrictions on media reportage in the actress assault case.
Notably, while this plea was pending, Dileep was acquitted in December 2025 by the trial court in the case, in which he had earlier been accused of conspiring to commit the offence.
His plea concerning press reports raised concerns that he was being subjected to a media trial. He had urged the High Court to restrain media reports about the case until the trial is completed.
The Court, however, today expressed reservations about whether Dileep could claim that his rights were violated.
Justice Jobin Sebastian noted that criminal cases had already been registered against the then CEO of Reporter TV, MV Nikesh Kumar and other media outlets over the alleged publication of confidential material concerning the actress assault trial.
However, the Judge also asked,
"What is the grievance of the petitioner (Dileep) here?"
Justice Sebastian noted that the law prohibits the disclosure of the victim's identity in sexual offence cases. However, no such restriction applies when it comes to accused persons in such cases.
"If the news report only says the name of the accused stating he has been arrested for rape, how can it be criminal offence... Bonafide reporting of the details of trial how can it be an offence?" the judge asked.
The Court also observed that contempt of court proceedings could have been initiated before the trial court if a media gag order of the trial court had been violated.
"How will publishing the trial details affect you (Dileep)? ...Why can’t you approach the trial court with a contempt petition... That is the remedy," Justice Sebstian said.
The Court, however, also criticised the State for failing to finish investigating the cybercrime cases registered in 2022 over the alleged illegal publication of confidential information concerning the actress assault trial.
The Court had earlier directed police to complete this investigation in a time-bound manner.
Notting that the State appears to have failed to comply with this directive, the Court has now sought a statement from the Public Prosecutor on the present stage of the investigation.
"The Public Prosecutor is directed to verify why the order of this Court (to fast track the probe and complete it within a time frame) has not been complied with so far. Post after one month," the Court ordered.
The Court also orally warned the authorities that it may initiate contempt of court proceedings if the probe was not completed soon.
"In between this time, if the investigation in these cases is not completed, contempt will be initiated. Please inform them today itself," the judge told the State's counsel.
Senior Counsel T Krishnanunni along with advocates Philip T Varghese, Thomas T Varghese, Achu Shubha Abraham, Litha VT, Monisha KR and Nitya R appeared for Dileep.
[Live Coverage]