‘Justice Still Incomplete’

Malayalam actor Manju Warrier has broken her silence nearly a week after the verdict in the 2017 actor sexual assault case, saying justice for the survivor remains “incomplete.” While expressing respect for the judiciary, Manju stressed that accountability must extend to everyone involved in planning the crime.

Taking to Instagram, Manju wrote, “I have utmost respect for the Honorable Court. But in this case, justice for the survivor is still incomplete. Only those who committed the crime have been punished.”

Emphasising the wider implications, Manju added that true justice would be complete only when all those behind the crime are held accountable, calling it essential not just for one survivor, but for every woman’s safety and dignity. She concluded her note with, “With her. Then, now, and always.”

Her statement came days after the Ernakulam Principal District and Sessions Court convicted six accused for abducting and sexually assaulting the actor, nearly nine years after the crime. However, Manju’s ex-husband, actor Dileep, accused of masterminding the assault, was acquitted, with the court ruling that there was no evidence linking him to the conspiracy.

The survivor, meanwhile, has expressed disappointment with the verdict, stating that she has lost faith in the trial court and raising concerns over the conduct of the proceedings.