Malayalam actor Dileep has withdrawn from a temple programme in Kerala’s Ernakulam after objections were raised over his participation, following his recent acquittal in the 2017 Malayalam actor assault case.
Dileep was scheduled to inaugurate the festival coupon distribution at the Ernakulam Siva Temple by receiving the first coupon. However, objections were reportedly raised from within the organising committee, prompting temple authorities to reschedule the event from Tuesday to Wednesday. It was later confirmed that the actor would not attend the programme.
The development comes amid renewed public debate and scrutiny surrounding Dileep after a Kerala Sessions Court, on December 12, sentenced six accused to 20 years’ imprisonment in the 2017 assault case while acquitting the actor. The survivor in the case has since expressed dissatisfaction with the verdict, stating that she had lost faith in the trial court.
Meanwhile, a separate incident linked to the controversy unfolded in Thiruvananthapuram district, where a screening of a Dileep-starrer film was stopped on a KSRTC Super Fast bus operating on the Thiruvananthapuram–Thottilpalam route. The film Ee Parakkum Thalika was being played when a woman passenger objected, stating that passengers should not be compelled to watch films during travel.
According to reports, the woman said several female passengers supported her objection and found such screenings uncomfortable. While some passengers argued that the screening was acceptable since a court verdict had been delivered in the case involving the actor, others backed the protest.
As the disagreement escalated into a verbal exchange, the bus conductor intervened and switched off the film, restoring calm inside the bus.
The twin developments reflect the continuing sensitivity and public divisions surrounding the actor’s presence in public and cultural spaces following the high-profile case.
Originally published on 24×7-news.com.
