The survivor’s lawyer in the 2017 actress assault case Advocate TB Mini moved the Kerala High Court Chief Justice seeking contempt action, alleging personal remarks by the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Judge during an open court hearing.
KERALA: The lawyer representing the survivor in the 2017 actress assault case has filed a complaint with Kerala High Court Chief Justice Soumen Sen, seeking contempt of court action against Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court Judge Honey M Varghese. The complaint alleges that the judge made personal remarks about both the lawyer and the victim during a public court session.
Advocate TB Mini, who assisted the public prosecutor in the case and also represented the survivor in related High Court matters including issues regarding the illegal access to a memory card containing footage of the assault expressed that the judge’s comments severely harmed her professional reputation and credibility.
The trial presided over by Judge Varghese resulted in the conviction of the prime accused, Pulsar Suni, along with five others, for offenses including gang rape, outraging a woman’s modesty, criminal conspiracy, and kidnapping. Actor Dileep was acquitted of all charges.
The controversy erupted during the hearing of defamation suits linked to the assault case on January 12, 2026. According to Mini, the sessions judge stated in open court that the counsel rarely attended the trial and referred to the courtroom as a place of rest where she was seen sleeping during proceedings.
In her complaint, Mini argued that such public remarks questioning an advocate’s conduct, when made without factual basis, constitute defamation. She emphasized the importance of mutual respect between the Bar and the Bench, asserting that when a lawyer is disparaged by a judge in open court, judicial intervention is necessary.
In her complaint, Mini stated,
“A lawyer and a judge are two wheels of the chariot of justice. If a lawyer is defamed in open court with false, defamatory and contemptuous allegations, the learned Judge is liable to be proceeded against by this Hon’ble Court. Hence I most humbly pray for suitable legal actions to be initiated against Smt Honey M Varghese and justice may be rendered to me. The conduct and false comments made by the sessions judge are truly unbecoming of a judicial officer,”
She further mentioned that such statements, made in front of other lawyers and members of the public, which were later amplified by media coverage, significantly undermined the dignity of the legal profession.
Additionally, the complaint highlighted that two special public prosecutors had previously resigned due to the contentious nature of the trial, having accused the court of bias against the prosecution.
Mini also alleged that the judge had made derogatory comments about the survivor and prosecution witnesses multiple times. A serious claim raised was that, despite her proper representation by junior counsel, the sessions judge falsely recorded in the order sheet that the counsel was absent, creating a misleading impression.
Consequently, Mini has requested the initiation of appropriate actions against Judge Varghese.