Kerala Court Sentences Six Convicted In Actress Rape Case To 20 Years Imprisonment

The Principal District and Sessions Court, Ernakulam, on Friday (December 12) sentenced all six accused, including the prime accused Sunil N.S. @ Pulsar Suni, to 20 years of imprisonment in the Actress Rape case.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, chances for reformation, potential 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...This court has to consider the fact that the acts of the accused persons amount to blow to the supreme dignity of woman, the act violated her right to safety and created fear, humiliation, pushing her into shame and helplessness," the judge remarked.The Court also considered the fact that all the accused that were convicted were below the age of 40 years as well as their family condition and criminal antecedents. It noted that only the first accused, i.e., Sunil had antecedents.Considering these aspects, the Court imposed all the six convicts to a sentence of 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 50,000/- for the crime. In case of default of payment of fine, a further period of rigorous imprisonment for 1 year.The Court further awarded sentences for the other offences committed by them but held that the substantive sentences of imprisonment shall run concurrently.Earlier this week, the Court had passed the verdict in the high-profile case. It had acquitted Malayalam cine actor Dileep, who was arrayed as the 8th accused and accused of orchestrating the whole crime. Pulsar Suni and 5 others were convicted.BackgroundThe actress assault case refers to the abduction and sexual assault of an actress in a moving vehicle in the outskirts of Cochin city that occurred on February 17, 2017. The accused persons are also alleged to have taken videos of the assault.Originally, there were 12 accused in the case, out of which two, Pratheesh Chacko and Raju Joseph, were discharged and one Vishnu turned approver. The other accused in the case are Martin Antony, Manikandan B., Vijeesh V.P., Salim H. @ Vadival Salim, Pradeep, Charly Thomas and Sanilkumar @ Mesthiri Sanil.Case No: SC 118 of 2018Case Title: State of Kerala v. Sunil N.S. @ Pulsar Suni and Ors.Click Here To Read/Download Order

Kerala Court Sentences Six Convicted In Actress Rape Case To 20 Years Imprisonment

K. Salma Jennath

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