The Kerala High Court has scheduled the hearing for appeals filed by three convicts in the sensational 2017 actress abduction and sexual assault case for February 4, 2026.
Justice A. Badharudeen listed the appeal of Martin Antony (the second accused) along with connected appeals filed by two other convicts, Saleem (alias Vadiwal Salim) and Pradeep. The trio is challenging the verdict of the Principal Sessions Court, Ernakulam, which had found them guilty in December 2025 and sentenced them to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment.
The case dates back to February 2017, when a prominent Malayalam actress was abducted and sexually assaulted in a moving vehicle. The perpetrators recorded the act on a mobile phone, allegedly to blackmail her.
After a prolonged trial that gripped the state, the Trial Court in December 2025 convicted six persons for the crime. However, the court acquitted actor Dileep, who was accused of being the mastermind behind the conspiracy, citing a lack of evidence to prove the conspiracy charge against him.
Martin Antony, who was the driver of the vehicle during the incident, has raised significant legal arguments in his appeal:
1. Claim of Parity with Dileep: Antony argues that his role, like Dileep’s, was framed primarily around the allegation of conspiracy.
- He contends that he was not physically present inside the vehicle during the sexual assault.
- His plea states: "When two accused persons involved in a crime are identically situated (alleged conspiracy), the Trial Court requires to give an identical treatment."
- Since Dileep (Accused No. 8) was acquitted of conspiracy charges, Antony argues he should also have been acquitted on similar grounds.
2. "Harsh and Excessive" Sentence: The appeal challenges the 20-year rigorous imprisonment term as disproportionate. Antony highlights that he has no prior criminal antecedents and had already spent over 5 years in jail as an undertrial prisoner before being granted bail by the Supreme Court in 2022.
3. Suspension of Sentence: Along with the main appeal against conviction, Antony has moved an application seeking the suspension of his sentence and release on bail while the High Court decides the matter.
The High Court Bench will now scrutinize the evidence relied upon by the Trial Court. The key legal battle will revolve around whether the "conspiracy" evidence that failed to stick against Dileep can legally sustain a conviction against the driver, Martin Antony.