Dileep gets travel clearance; 'Bha Bha Ba' actor's passport released by court, 'No Legal Bar', says judge

Following the acquittal of actor Dileep in the 2017 actress rape case that garnered much attention in Kerala, the Ernakulam Chief Sessions Court has ordered the return of his passport. The court accepted Dileep's petition seeking the return of his passport, which was kept in judicial custody as a condition of bail during the investigation. The passport was surrendered as part of the bail conditions imposed after his arrest in the case, the court also stated that there is no legal requirement to continue the acquittal, given that the verdict has now been issued.

Dileep's side cites overseas travel for film promotion

As per News 18, the lawyer appearing for Dileep said that the actor had to travel abroad for promotional work for his new film. He also argued that there was no legal basis for the court to retain the passport even after release. It was also noted that Dileep was granted permission to travel abroad several times during the investigation, and his passport was returned to the court after the trip was completed. The defense had requested that the passport be returned on the same day the verdict was delivered.

Dileep was found not guilty

The government strongly opposed this. The government attorney argued that there was a possibility of appealing the acquittal and that it was not right to return the passport in that situation. However, the court, which reconsidered the matter on Thursday, said that since Dileep was found not guilty, the bail bonds were automatically cancelled. Therefore, the order clarified that there is no impediment to returning the passport.

Survivor actress files police complaint over cyber attacks

Meanwhile, in another twist in the case, the victim actress has filed a police complaint, alleging that she has been subjected to a series of cyberattacks targeting her since the verdict. She has submitted 16 web links to appeal against defamatory and insulting content spread on social media. The complaint also includes a video allegedly released by the second accused, Martin. Based on this complaint, the Ernakulam police have registered a case under serious, non-bailable sections and intensified the investigation. Reports also indicate that Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has ordered the police to take swift and strict action.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is based on reported news of court proceedings and legal claims. It does not constitute legal advice or a definitive statement on the outcome of the case. Readers should not rely solely on this information for making legal or commercial decisions.