The Kerala court has sentenced Pulsar Suni and five others to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment in the 2017 actress assault case, marking a major legal milestone while acquitting actor Dileep of all conspiracy charges.
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KERALA: In a landmark judgment, the Ernakulam District and Sessions Court on Friday sentenced the main accused, Pulsar Suni (Sunil NS) and five others to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for the 2017 abduction and gang rape of a leading Malayalam actress. The sentencing follows the Court’s December 8 verdict acquitting Malayalam actor Dileep of conspiracy charges while convicting six others.
Judge Honey M. Varghese delivered the sentence, emphasizing that although the case captured massive public attention, “the sensational nature of the case should not influence judicial decisions.”
Who Was Convicted?
The six men convicted on December 8 were:
- Sunil NS alias Pulsar Suni
- Martin Antony
- Manikandan B
- Vijeesh VP
- Salim H alias Vadival Salim
- Pradeep
They were found guilty of a series of offenses, including conspiracy, wrongful confinement, kidnapping, outraging modesty, disrobing, criminal force, and gang rape (Section 376D IPC).
20 Years Rigorous Imprisonment Under Section 376D IPC
The Court imposed 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of ₹50,000 each under Section 376D for gang rape. In case of default, an additional one-year RI will apply.
Judge Varghese held that although the crime was grave, the mitigating factors did not warrant the maximum punishment of life imprisonment.
Additional Sentences
For Pulsar Suni (A1):
- 3 years imprisonment + ₹1,00,000 fine under Section 66E (IT Act)
- 5 years RI + ₹1,00,000 fine under Section 67A (IT Act)
For co-accused Martin Antony:
- 3 years RI + ₹25,000 fine for Section 201 IPC (destruction of evidence)
The Court ordered all sentences to run concurrently, meaning the effective imprisonment term is 20 years for each convict.
The Court directed that ₹5 lakh be paid to the survivor from the fines imposed on the convicts. Additionally, all accused will receive a set-off for the time they have already spent in custody during the trial.
Judge Varghese underscored the need for balanced justice:
“The sensational nature of the case does not make any impact on the mind of the court while awarding the sentence… The court has to balance justice for society and for the offender.”
The Court considered both aggravating factors, such as the brutality of the assault, the psychological trauma inflicted, and the violation of the survivor’s dignity, and mitigating circumstances, including the age and family situation of the accused and the absence of prior criminal records for all except Suni.
Background of the 2017 Case
The case remains one of the most closely watched in Kerala’s legal and cinematic history. Malayalam cine actor Dileep is one of the 10 accused and has been charged with allegedly conspiring to abduct and sexually assault a fellow actress.
The incident occurred on February 17, 2017, when the survivor, a popular actress who has worked across Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu cinema, was allegedly abducted and sexually assaulted inside a moving vehicle in Kochi for nearly two hours. She filed a complaint the same night, leading to the arrest of multiple suspects, including the prime accused, Pulsar Suni.
In July 2017, investigations pointed to a conspiracy behind the assault, resulting in the arrest of Dileep. He was later named the eighth accused in the charge sheet.
The trial officially began on January 30, 2020, and has been marred by twists and prolonged litigation, including:
- Allegations of evidence tampering
- Hostile witnesses
- Multiple petitions before the Kerala High Court and the Supreme Court
- Accusations of deliberate attempts to delay proceedings
Special Judge Honey M Varghese presided over the trial. Though the survivor and the state government filed petitions to replace the judge, citing perceived bias, the Supreme Court dismissed the pleas, allowing her to continue.
More than 200 witnesses testified, and the case involved extensive forensic analysis of digital evidence. All accused have been booked under major IPC sections, including:
- 120B – Criminal conspiracy
- 366 – Kidnapping
- 376D – Gang rape
along with provisions of the Information Technology Act.
In September 2024, the Supreme Court granted bail to Pulsar Suni, remarking that the trial had already taken too long.
Beyond the courtroom, the case exposed systemic misogyny and lack of institutional safeguards within the Malayalam film industry. Public outrage led to the rise of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) and the formation of the Hema Committee in 2019 to investigate:
- Workplace harassment
- Gender discrimination
- Absence of redressal mechanisms for women in cinema
Although the committee submitted its report in 2019, it was released to the public only on August 19, 2024, after a legal battle. The heavily redacted report still triggered a fresh wave of testimonies and #MeToo disclosures in Kerala’s entertainment industry.
In July 2017, actor Dileep was arrested for allegedly conspiring with the accused as part of a personal vendetta. However, the Court acquitted him of all charges on December 8, 2023.
Prosecution Sought Life Imprisonment
During the sentencing hearing, the Special Public Prosecutor argued for life imprisonment, asserting that the punishment should “send a clear message to society.” However, the Court decided on 20 years RI, noting Suni’s direct involvement in the rape but acknowledging equal liability of all conspirators.
During the hearing:
- Suni pleaded for leniency, citing responsibility for his elderly mother.
- Antony said he had already spent many years in jail.
- Manikandan argued he was not part of the conspiracy and is the sole breadwinner for his family.
- Vijeesh requested leniency and placement in a jail near his hometown.
- Salim and Pradeep maintained they were innocent.
The Court, however, rejected these pleas in light of the gravity of the crime.
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