By: Entertainment DeskKochi | December 9, 2025 05:52 PM IST 4 min readActors Asif Ali and Lal reacted to the verdict in the 2017 Malayalam actress abduction and assault case. (Credit: PTI, Facebook/@ActorLal, @ActorAsifAli)Almost nine years after the abduction and assault of a prominent Malayalam female actor in a moving vehicle shook Kerala, the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court pronounced its verdict in the case on Monday, December 8. While six of the ten accused were found guilty, the others, including actor Dileep, who allegedly masterminded the heinous crime, were acquitted. Even as the survivor is yet to comment on the verdict, several people close to her have reacted to the latest development.ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW VIDEOA day after the verdict, actor Asif Ali, with whom the survivor has worked on several movies and shares a warm bond, maintained that he would continue to stand by her no matter what. Stating that he respects the court’s judgment, the Kishkindha Kandam and Rekhachithram star explained that his stance has always been that the survivor should receive justice, rather than any particular person being punished.Dileep’s downfall | How the 2017 actor abduction and assault case accused dug his own grave in cinema and real life“I accept the court’s verdict. If I comment on the judgment, it will amount to contempt of court. My stand has always been that the survivor must get justice, not that someone in particular must be punished. Everyone whom the court deemed punishable has been punished. I continue to stand with the survivor,” Mathrubhumi quoted him as saying.“She is my colleague, a very close friend. If something like that has happened to her, no compensation is enough. I only want her to get justice,” he added. When asked whether Dileep’s acquittal would pave the way for his return to the film organisations from which he had been ousted, Asif Ali refrained from commenting, stating that such matters fell outside his purview.ICYMI | What next for Dileep? Acquittal could pave way for return to film bodies that once shunned himActor-filmmaker Lal (of the Siddique-Lal duo), at whose house the survivor took refuge after being subjected to the crime, expressed that he felt a sense of relief after hearing the verdict. He also stated that he had prayed for the accused to receive the maximum punishment. “When the child (survivor) came to my house, I was the one who contacted the then DGP Behera. Former MLA PT Thomas came into the picture only after that. Thomas requested that the driver be taken to the hospital because he seemed unwell. I was the one who intervened and said that his behaviour seemed off. Eventually, he was taken to the hospital, but he soon came under police investigation, thereby opening up the case,” he said, as per Onmanorama.Story continues below this adLal added, “It was only revealed later that there was a conspiracy. But I am not the right person to comment on that. During the court proceedings, both my family and I made sure to tell the truth, without changing any details. There may be misunderstandings along the way, and sometimes it’s hard to know what is right, but I’ve shared everything that could help. If this case reaches the Supreme Court, I will share what I know.”Dileep acquitted | What was the 2017 Kerala actor sexual assault case, what was Dileep’s alleged roleBhagyalakshmi resigns from FEFKA after organisation considers reinstating Dileep’s membershipMeanwhile, igniting a fresh row, veteran dubbing artiste Bhagyalakshmi has resigned from the Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA), the apex body of 21 trade unions working at various levels of Malayalam cinema. Her decision comes hours after the organisation’s general secretary, B Unnikrishnan, said FEFKA was considering reinstating Dileep’s membership, suspended following his arrest in the case.“If we realise an organisation is not ready to stand with survivors of sexual abuse, we don’t have any other option than quitting. I am realising that the members of the organisation are standing with the one who has power and influence,” The News Minute quoted Bhagyalakshmi as telling the media.Click here to follow Screen Digital on YouTube and stay updated with the latest from the world of cinema.© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd