Actress sexual assault case: Court sentences six persons to 20 yrs' RI

Kochi, Dec 12 (PTI) A court here on Friday sentenced six people convicted in the 2017 actress sexual assault to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment, days after acquitting top Malayalam cinema star Dileep in the same 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' RI for the offence of gang rape.

The court also ordered imprisonment for other offences, and they will run concurrently.

The court ordered the victim be paid a compensation of Rs five lakh. The pen drive containing the sexual assault visuals should be maintained in the custody of the investigating officer.

On December 8, the court acquitted four accused, including actor Dileep.

The convicted individuals were found guilty under the then IPC sections, including for gangrape, abduction and criminal conspiracy.

Earlier in the day, the court heard submissions from the convicted persons, their counsel and the prosecution on the quantum of sentence. They were convicted on Monday.

The judge also directed lawyers and the media to refrain from criticising the judicial process in the wake of the verdict.

The convicted persons sought leniency, citing family and health conditions.

Martin (A 2), and the sixth accused Pradeep broke down in court, claiming innocence and saying they were the sole breadwinners of their families.

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 the five convicted persons.

The court asked the prosecution whether the same sentence can be imposed on the first accused and other convicted persons under Section 376(D) of the IPC, i.e gangrape.

The court also asked the counsel appearing for the de facto complainant, but she was not present.

The hearing on the quantum of sentence started at 11.30 am and concluded at 12.50 pm.

Later, the court announced the sentence to the convicted person by around 4.45 pm.

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 video recorded the act 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 near six-year trial, the court found him not guilty. PTI TBA SA