A Kerala court has sentenced Pulsar Suni and five others to 20 years in prison for the 2017 actress assault case, while ordering Rs 5 lakh compensation for the victim. Actor Dileep, accused of conspiracy, was acquitted after a six-year trial
Actress assault case 2017
Days after the court acquitted actor Dileep in the 2017 actress assault case, the bench has delivered its verdict on the punishment for the six convicted in the case. Pulsar Suni who is the prime accused in the case has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Punishment announced in actress assault case
Ernakulam District and Principal Sessions Court Judge Honey M Varghese sentenced Sunil NS, also known as Pulsar Suni, Martin Antony, Manikandan B, Vijesh VP, Salim H, and Pradeep to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for the offence of gang rape. The court also ordered imprisonment for other offences, but they will run concurrently.
The court also ordered the victim to be paid a compensation of Rs 5 lakhs, and the pen drive containing the sexual assault visuals should be maintained in the custody of the investigation officer.
The convicted individuals were found guilty under IPC sections 120(B) (criminal conspiracy), 342 (wrongful confinement), 354(B) (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage modesty), 357 (assault or criminal force in attempt to wrongfully confine a person), 366 (abduction), 376(D) (gang rape), and under IT Act sections 66E (violation of privacy by capturing or transmitting images of a private area without consent) and 67(A) (publishing or transmitting sexually explicit material).
Earlier in the day, the court heard submissions from the convicted persons, their counsel and the prosecution on the quantum of sentence.
The convicted persons sought leniency, citing family and health conditions. The second accused Martin, and the sixth accused Pradeep, broke down in court, claiming innocence and said they were the sole breadwinners of their families.
The Special Public Prosecutor V Aja Kumar emphasised that the maximum punishment of life imprisonment for gang rape should be imposed on all the accused.
Throughout the hearing, the court maintained that the crime committed by Suni is more grievous than offences against five convicted persons.
Malayalam actor Dileep acquitted
The assault on the multilingual actress, after the accused allegedly forced their way into her car and held it under their control for two hours on February 17, 2017, had shocked Kerala. Prime accused Pulsar Suni sexually assaulted the actress and recorded the act on video with the help of the other convicted persons in the moving car. Actor Dileep, who was accused of conspiring in the crime, was arrested during the investigation. However, after a nearly six-year trial, the court found him not guilty.
After his acquittal, Dileep told reporters outside the court, “In court, the police’s fabricated story failed,” he told reporters after leaving the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court. He alleged that the investigation team deliberately framed him by manipulating the prime accused and others.
Dileep also claimed the conspiracy began with his former wife Manju Warrier and involved a senior police official, with sections of the media allegedly used to spread false narratives. When asked who the conspirators were, he responded, “It’s for you to find out,” before leaving in his car.
(with inputs from PTI)
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