Temple withdraws Dileep invite amid backlash, coupon launch of festival postponed

A day after the screening of a movie starring Dileep, who was recently acquitted in the actor abduction and rape case, had to be stopped aboard a KSRTC super fast bus following stiff protest by a woman passenger, the actor has been unceremoniously removed from inaugurating the distribution of coupons in connection with the annual festival at the Ernakulam Siva Temple here on Monday.

The temple had even printed notices announcing the function scheduled for Tuesday with Dileep’s name, but was forced to revoke the decision after opinions differed within the temple committee, especially in the wake of social media posts by the survivor in the actor assault case on how she perceived being denied justice, and Dileep’s former wife and actor Manju Warrier declaring solidarity with the survivor. The function now stands postponed to Wednesday, coinciding with the start of the festival. It will now be held without any celebrity, with the temple head priest or thanthri launching the coupons.

According to temple authorities, the decision to rope in Dileep was made by a section of the temple advisory committee without consulting the entire committee. “Dileep visits the temple every month. On one of those occasions, an advisory committee member took up the matter with him and he evinced interest. But the committee became divided over the issue in the wake of the verdict in the actor assault case, and the Cochin Devaswom Board president intervened,” said a temple official.

Reportedly, the temple advisory committee was asked to revisit the decision as it had turned controversial. The committee was advised not to be seen as taking sides and to remain open for prayers from both the survivor and the acquitted actor.

On Sunday, the screening of Dileep’s old movie Ee Parakkum Thalika aboard a KSRTC super fast bus on the Thiruvananthapuram–Thottilpalam route had to be stopped after a woman passenger strongly objected to screening a film featuring the actor acquitted in the assault case. A video of the woman arguing with another male passenger over the matter also went viral on social media.