Kerala High Court: Closes Dileep Media Reporting Plea After Chargesheets

• The Kerala High Court closed actor Dileep's petition challenging media reporting of the 2017 actress assault case on Tuesday.
• Justice Jobin Sebastian's order followed the public prosecutor's report that investigations into five criminal cases against media for alleged violations were complete, and chargesheets filed.
• Dileep had filed the petition in 2022, alleging 'trial by media' and prejudice to his fair trial rights due to publication of in-camera proceedings.
• His counsel agreed that the petition's purpose was served, leading to the court recording the submission and closing the case.
• The decision indicates that formal criminal complaints against media for reporting violations can lead to the resolution of related petitions.

This decision by the Kerala High Court offers significant insights into how courts may approach petitions challenging media reporting of in-camera proceedings, especially once formal investigations into alleged violations are concluded and chargesheets are filed.

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday formally closed a petition filed by Malayalam actor Dileep, which had challenged alleged illegal media reporting of in-camera trial proceedings in the 2017 actress assault case. The court's decision, delivered by Justice Jobin Sebastian, came after the public prosecutor informed the bench that investigations into all five criminal cases registered concerning the alleged media violations had been completed, and chargesheets had subsequently been filed before the jurisdictional court. This development effectively concludes the actor's plea regarding the extensive media coverage surrounding the sensitive trial.

Counsel for the petitioner, P Gopalakrishnan, also known as Dileep, concurred with the public prosecutor's update, acknowledging that the initial purpose of the petition had been served. The court, in its order, formally recorded this submission from the petitioner's legal team, leading to the closure of the case titled P Gopalakrishnan @ Dileep v State of Kerala & ors. The resolution highlights a procedural pathway for addressing concerns about media conduct during ongoing legal proceedings, particularly those designated as in-camera.

Actor Dileep had initially lodged his petition in 2022, a period after the trial in the high-profile actress assault case had already commenced. In the underlying 2017 actress assault case, actor Dileep, who was arrayed as the eighth accused, was acquitted by the Ernakulam District and Principal Sessions court on December 8, 2025. The State Government has since filed an appeal in the Kerala High Court challenging his acquittal, which was admitted on June 22, 2026. His primary contention in the High Court was that various media outlets, specifically naming news channel Reporter TV among others, had flagrantly violated restrictions placed on media reportage by publishing sensitive details of the in-camera proceedings.

The actor argued that such extensive and unrestricted media reporting amounted to a 'trial by media,' a phenomenon he contended severely prejudiced his fundamental right to a fair trial. Consequently, he had urged the High Court to intervene and impose necessary restraints on the media to prevent further dissemination of confidential trial information. The petition underscored the tension between press freedom and the integrity of judicial processes, particularly in cases involving in-camera trial reporting in India, where strict rules are often in place to protect the privacy of proceedings and ensure impartiality.

The closure of the petition by Justice Jobin Sebastian was directly predicated on the concrete actions taken by the authorities in response to the alleged media transgressions. The public prosecutor's report detailing the completion of investigations and the filing of chargesheets in five distinct criminal cases against media entities for the alleged violations proved pivotal. This indicated that the concerns raised by Dileep regarding illegal publication were being addressed through formal legal channels, moving beyond the scope of a High Court petition seeking general restrictions.

By pursuing criminal complaints against the media outlets, the legal framework allowed for a direct investigation into the alleged breaches of reporting restrictions. The subsequent filing of chargesheets signifies that prima facie evidence was found to proceed with prosecution in these separate cases. This formal legal process, rather than a broad High Court injunction, became the mechanism through which the alleged 'trial by media' issues were addressed, ultimately satisfying the petitioner's counsel that the objectives of their original plea had been met.

This decision by the Kerala High Court offers significant insights into how courts may approach petitions challenging media reporting of in-camera proceedings, especially once formal investigations into alleged violations are concluded and chargesheets are filed. It suggests that once the state machinery has initiated criminal proceedings against media entities for alleged breaches, the necessity for a separate High Court petition seeking general restrictions diminishes. The court's action in closing Dileep's plea against media reporting underscores a judicial preference for specific legal remedies when available.

For legal practitioners advising clients facing issues of 'trial by media,' this case highlights the potential effectiveness of pursuing formal criminal complaints against media outlets for violating reporting restrictions. Such a strategy can lead to concrete investigative outcomes and chargesheets, which in turn may prompt the resolution or closure of related petitions in higher courts. The outcome in the Dileep actress assault case media reporting issue provides a precedent for addressing concerns about journalistic conduct through established criminal justice pathways, rather than solely relying on broader injunctions.

This development indicates that courts may close petitions challenging media reporting of in-camera proceedings once investigations into alleged media violations are completed and chargesheets filed. Lawyers advising clients facing 'trial by media' issues should note that pursuing formal criminal complaints against media outlets for such violations can be an effective strategy, potentially leading to the resolution or closure of related petitions.

Source: Original reporting via Live Law