Pranav B Prem

The Principal District and Sessions Court in Ernakulam on Friday (December 12) issued a strong caution to media personnel and lawyers, urging them not to misrepresent or misreport the court proceedings in the ongoing actress assault case.

Also Read: State Moves Kerala High Court Against Sessions Court’s Grant of Anticipatory Bail to MLA Rahul Mamkootathil in Second Sexual Assault Case

Before the Court proceeded to hear the matter on sentencing for those found guilty, Principal District and Sessions Judge Honey M. Varghese made an oral remark cautioning against any attempt to record the proceedings or circulate distorted versions of what transpired inside the courtroom. The judge also reminded those present that no one should offer opinions “before reading the judgment in the case”. She observed that the matter had been sensationalised in the public sphere from the beginning, particularly after the verdict was delivered. Following a detailed hearing, the Court informed that it would pronounce the sentence later in the day at 3:30 p.m.

In the verdict pronounced earlier, the Court had acquitted Malayalam actor Dileep, who was the 8th accused in the case. Six others, including the prime accused Sunil N.S. @ Pulsar Suni, were convicted. The Court had then adjourned the sentencing to be taken up today. When the case was called for consideration, the judge observed that the matter was one that should have been handled in strict confidentiality, without revealing the identity of the victim, but noted that this requirement had not been adhered to by sections of the media.

Also Read: Section 195 CrPC Bar Invoked Only At Cognizance Stage: P&H High Court Declines To Quash FIR Against Ex-MLA In 2015 Sacrilege Incident

Actor Dileep had also approached the High Court alleging that the media had subjected him to a trial through its reporting. Recently, the High Court directed the State to provide updates regarding the status of the five FIRs that were registered pursuant to its order on Dileep’s plea alleging violation of the bar on publication, broadcast and telecast of trial proceedings in the actress assault case. The Sessions Court also noted that several contempt petitions arising from the matter are pending. It stated that these petitions will be taken up for consideration on December 18.