Kerala Actress Assault Case: Court Sentences Six Convicts to 20 Years, Imposes Fine Of Rs 50,000

The Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court on Friday delivered the long-awaited verdict in the 2017 Kerala actress assault case, sentencing six men, including the prime accused Pulsar Suni, to 20 years in prison.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on each convict.The court decided against awarding the death penalty, citing the convicts’ advancing age and their family circumstances. The ruling drew widespread public attention, with local media gathering in large numbers outside the courthouse since the morning of December 12.Judge Honey M Varghese delivered the sentence after convicting the accused in the previous hearing."This case has created a sensation but the court should bear in mind that the sensational nature of the case does not make any impact on the mind of the court while awarding the sentence. Each of the court while awarding the sentence has to balance justice for society and the offender by considering the crimes aggravated history of the accused, aggravating, mitigating factors and the aims of punishment. While awarding sentence, the Court shall not be carried away with any sort of sensational bias," the bench remarked, according to LiveLaw.Also Read: Mohanlal, Mammootty Puppets In Actor Dileep’s Hands’; When A Malayalam Director Made SHOCKING Allegations

What Is The Case?

The actress assault case involves the abduction and sexual assault of an actress inside a moving vehicle on the outskirts of Cochin on February 17, 2017. The accused are also alleged to have recorded videos of the assault.Originally, the case involved 12 accused. Two of them, Pratheesh Chacko and Raju Joseph, were discharged, while Vishnu turned approver. The remaining accused are Martin Antony, Manikandan, Vijeesh VP, Salim H (also known as Vadival Salim), Pradeep, Charly Thomas and Sanilkumar (also known as Mesthiri Sanil).Also Read | Chinmayi Sripaada Posts Cryptic Note Following Dileep’s Acquittal In Kerala Sexual Assault Case: Wow, Just Wow

Dileep Breaks Silence After Acquittal In 2017 Kerala Sexual Assault Case

Malayalam actor Dileep shared his first public reaction after being pronounced not guilty in the 2017 Kerala sexual assault case. This marked the end of a legal battle that extended for nearly nine years. Following the verdict, Dileep told the media, "Thank you to those who supported me, thank you to all those who stood by me for 9 years."According to Dileep, the origins of the case against him was started by his ex-wife Manju. According to him the conspiracy started when "Manju said it was a conspiracy." According to him, after these statement, law enforcement officers got involved and took the case further. The actor also shared in length, how, according to him, the case was built. He directly implicated certain members of the police force in the case, adding, "A senior police officer and his associates then implemented things."Offering further context, Dileep added, “The police team made a false story by gathering the main accused and his associates in jail. The media was used to spread the false story on social media,” suggesting how the narrative was amplified beyond the courtroom.The actor maintained that these alleged fabrications ultimately collapsed in court. “The false story created by the police team failed in court,” he said, adding, “The real conspiracy was to make me an accused. It was done to destroy my image and life.”