UDF convenor Adoor Prakash put Congress in a spot by openly declaring that justice had prevailed in the actor abduction and assault case with the acquittal of Malayalam film actor Dileep. Fellow Congress leaders quickly disowned Prakash.
The UDF convenor said, “Even while saying that we are all with the survivor, we must also recognise that everyone deserves justice and that Dileep has got justice. He is not only an artiste for me. I have a personal relationship with him. He has got justice. The court has delivered justice for him.” When asked to comment on the government’s decision to appeal against the verdict, Adoor Prakash replied, “They have no other job to do. This is a government which is ready to cook up any case to cause harm to others.”
As Prakash’s statement started causing damage for the party on the polling day, KPCC president Sunny Joseph urged Prakash to issue a clarification. Prakash eventually took a U-turn and blamed the media for not carrying his quotes in full. “What I said was that justice was not delivered for the survivor,” said Prakash, adding, “At the same time, it is difficult for me to reject a judgement made by a court. Congress and the UDF are with the survivor. Let the government go for an appeal. It is not Adoor Prakash or the UDF who has to decide on going for an appeal. We have not stopped anyone from going for an appeal.”