Dileep claims conspiracy against him began with ex-wife Manju Warrier’s remark: ‘Real conspiracy was to make me accused, destroy my career and life’

Only in SCREEN | Dileep’s downfall: How the 2017 actor abduction and assault case accused dug his own grave in cinema and real life

Alleging that there was indeed a criminal conspiracy in the case, Dileep told reporters, “The conspiracy against me began the moment Manju (Manju Warrier) stated that the criminal conspiracy behind the incident must be investigated. A senior officer at that time, along with a team of criminal-minded police personnel chosen by them, orchestrated this action against me. For this purpose, they supported the main accused in the case and the co-accused who were lodged in prison with him, and together this police team created a fabricated story.”

It may be recalled that during a solidarity meet organised at the Durbar Hall ground in Kochi on February 19, 2017, two days after the incident shook Kerala, Manju Warrier had said, “There has clearly been a criminal conspiracy behind this crime.” However, she hadn’t named anyone at that time. Industry bigwigs like Mohanlal and Mammootty, as well as Dileep, were present on the occasion.

2017 actress abduction and assault case timeline | From the day that shook Kerala and Dileep’s arrest to the verdict

Dileep added while talking to reporters, “Then, with the help of certain media organisations and a few journalists who were ready to support them, this fabricated narrative was widely circulated through social media. Today, in court, this fake story created by that police team has collapsed. The real conspiracy in this case was to make me the accused, to destroy my career, my image, and my life in society.”

Although Dileep dubbed the case against him as fabricated and claimed that “truth has won,” it may be recalled that the survivor in the case had previously approached the Kerala High Court more than once seeking the transfer of the case to another court, alleging she was not satisfied with the trial proceedings conducted by Judge Honey Varghese, who eventually pronounced the verdict on December 8, 2025.

According to The News Minute, the survivor had questioned why the judge did not disclose in court that she had received a forensic report indicating that the visuals of the sexual assault had been illegally accessed by someone while in the court’s custody. She also stated that the judge treated prosecution witnesses “rudely.” It may also be recalled that two special public prosecutors assigned to the case had earlier resigned, stating that it had become untenable to continue working with the judge. However, the HC dismissed the survivor’s petitions.