Kochi – A man convicted in the 2017 sexual assault case involving a Malayalam film actress has moved the Kerala High Court, seeking to challenge his conviction and sentence. The appeal comes weeks after a Kerala court acquitted prominent actor Dileep in the high-profile case while sentencing six others, including the appellant, to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment.

The convict, identified as Martin, was the second accused in the case and has argued in his appeal that the trial court failed to adequately consider evidence establishing his non-involvement in the crime. Martin’s appeal contends that he was wrongfully implicated and that the prosecution did not prove a criminal conspiracy linking him to the other accused.

According to the appeal, Martin was accused of allegedly helping to pick up the survivor, stage a fake accident, facilitate her abduction, and destroy evidence by disposing of his mobile phone SIM card. However, Martin contended that key prosecution witnesses failed to establish any association or prior contact between him and the other accused. He further highlighted that the trial court itself had noted that the prosecution had not sufficiently proven the alleged conspiracy.

Martin’s appeal also pointed out discrepancies in the trial court’s treatment of accused individuals. While he was convicted for conspiracy, another accused facing similar allegations was acquitted. He argued that both accused were similarly placed and that the trial court applied different standards in evaluating the evidence, resulting in an inconsistent outcome.

The appellant maintained that there were no allegations of sexual assault against him, nor evidence placing him at the scene of the crime. His purported role, according to the appeal, was limited to an alleged conspiracy, which the evidence did not substantiate. He also asserted that relevant witness statements had been submitted in written form before the trial court, but the court had failed to adequately consider or discuss them. Martin described his conviction as a result of being deputed to pick up the survivor on the day of the incident and claimed he was falsely implicated.

The 2017 assault occurred while the actress was traveling from Thrissur to Ernakulam following a film shoot. During the attack, she was allegedly abducted and sexually assaulted inside a moving vehicle, and portions of the crime were reportedly recorded on a mobile phone. Dileep, who was arrested on charges of conspiracy, was acquitted along with three other accused on December 8, 2025, while six individuals, including Martin, were sentenced to two decades of rigorous imprisonment.

The verdict had sparked widespread discussion, and the survivor publicly expressed her disappointment over the acquittal of Dileep and others via social media. Martin’s appeal now seeks to have his conviction overturned, citing lack of evidence, misappreciation of witness statements, and alleged unequal treatment in the evaluation of evidence by the trial court.

The Kerala High Court will now consider Martin’s plea, which could potentially lead to a reassessment of the trial court’s findings regarding his involvement in the case. The outcome of the appeal will be closely watched, given the high-profile nature of the original trial and the public attention surrounding the case.