Kerala Actress Assault Case: No Life Term, All Six Convicts Sentenced to 20 Years Rigorous Imprisonment
Each convict was also fined Rs 50,000, with an extra year in prison if the fine isn’t paid
THIRUVANNATHAPURAM: The Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court handed down 20 years of rigorous imprisonment to six people found guilty in the 2017 actress assault case. They were convicted under 376 D (Gang Rape) and 120 B (Criminal Conspiracy). Each convict was also fined Rs 50,000, with an extra year in prison if the fine isn’t paid. The sentence was delivered by Principal Sessions Judge Honey M Varghese in the afternoon, after all six—Sunil alias Pulsar Suni, Martin Antony, Manikandan B, Vijesh VP, Salim H, and Pradeep—were brought from jail to court earlier that morning.
Special Public Prosecutor V. Aja Kumar argued in court that all the accused convicted under Section 376 D (gang rape) and 120 B (criminal conspiracy) should receive the same punishment. The prosecution also stated that the sentence should serve as a strong deterrent to society.
Before sentencing, the court asked the convicts if they wished to make any submissions. Pulsar Suni told the judge he had only an elderly mother at home, while Martin Antony, who broke down in court, said he was unaware of the crime and insisted he had been unjustly implicated. Antony added that he had spent five and a half years in prison for a crime he did not commit and pointed out that he had never faced even a petty case before this one.
The convict pleaded innocence, pointing out that he had ailing elderly parents and was their only support. He was also the sole breadwinner for the family and requested the court to consider his plea and acquit him. Manikandan informed the court that he had no criminal background. He said he had a wife, a nine-year-old son, and a two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, all dependent on him. Vijesh requested the court for a reduced sentence and a transfer to Kannur Central Jail. Salim also claimed he was innocent.
Pulsar Suni has been sentenced to three years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs 1 lakh for recording the assault visuals under Section 66E of the IT Act. He also received five years of rigorous imprisonment and another Rs 1 lakh fine under Section 67A for sharing those visuals.
Martin Antony was given three years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs 25,000 for destroying evidence under Section 201 of the IPC. All six accused were sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 25,000 each under Section 366 of the IPC for kidnapping.
The time the accused have already spent in judicial custody during investigation, inquiry, or trial will be deducted from their final sentence, reducing the actual time they will serve in prison.
Quantum of sentence disappointing says Spl Public Prosecutor
Special Public Prosecutor V Aja Kumar said this is the least sentence that can be given for these charges.
He termed the sentencing as disappointing and said it sends the wrong message to society. He added that the prosecution will recommend that the State Government file an appeal in the case.
The prosecution had argued for life term in the case .
The Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court on December 8 found the six accused in the case guilty.
Malayalam actor Dileep, who was the eighth accused in the case, was acquitted by the court.
Actress assault case
The shocking incident occurred on February 17, 2017, when the actress was allegedly abducted and sexually assaulted inside a moving car while travelling from Thrissur to Ernakulam. Near Angamaly, another vehicle rammed into the car she was in, and a group of men attacked the driver.
They then forcibly entered her vehicle and drove along the highway. During this time, the main accused, Pulsar Suni, allegedly assaulted the actress and recorded the act on his mobile phone. After the crime, the gang abandoned her outside a film director’s residence and fled.
Police later arrested seven people in connection with the assault, suspecting a conspiracy and that the recording was meant for blackmail. Suspicion fell on Dileep after a letter from Pulsar Suni, addressed to him, surfaced from jail. Dileep denied the allegations, accusing the media of spreading lies. He was taken into custody in July 2017 and spent 85 days in jail before being granted bail.
