Kerala Actress Gang Rape: Court Sentences Pulsar Suni and Five Others to 20 Years’ Rigorous Imprisonment
Pranav B Prem
A Kerala court on Friday imposed a sentence of twenty years’ rigorous imprisonment on Pulsar Suni, the principal accused in the 2017 Kerala actress gang rape case, along with the five others who were convicted alongside him in State of Kerala v. Sunil NS @ Pulsar Suni. The punishment followed the Court’s earlier verdict delivered on December 8.
The sentence was pronounced by Honey M Varghese, Judge of the Ernakulam District and Sessions Court, who had acquitted Malayalam actor Dileep while convicting six individuals for their roles in the crime. Those found guilty were Sunil NS @ Pulsar Suni, Martin Antony, Manikandan B, Vijeesh VP, Salim H @ Vadival Salim, and Pradeep. The Court heard all six men on the issue of sentence earlier in the day before ordering that each of them undergo twenty years of rigorous imprisonment for the offence of gang rape.
The case concerns the abduction and sexual assault of a prominent Malayalam actress in February 2017. While travelling to a film shooting location, the actor was forcibly taken into a moving vehicle, where she was sexually assaulted and recorded by the assailants. The following day, Martin Antony, the driver, was detained. Within a week, Sunil NS, also known as Pulsar Suni and a history-sheeter, was arrested and named as the first accused. Four more individuals were arrested by the end of the same month.
Later that year, in July 2017, Dileep was taken into custody on allegations that he had conspired in orchestrating the crime as retaliation for the survivor having informed his then wife about his extramarital affair. He spent 83 days in jail before eventually securing bail in October 2017, and was ultimately acquitted when the verdict was pronounced on December 8.
The six convicted men were found guilty under multiple provisions of the Indian Penal Code, including Sections 120B, 342, 354, 366, 354B, 357, and 376D. In addition to the IPC offences, the Court also found them guilty of conspiring to commit violations under Sections 66E and 67A of the Information Technology Act for having recorded and transmitted videos of the assault. Only Suni, however, was found directly liable under these IT Act provisions.
During the hearing on sentencing, each of the convicts put forth their submissions seeking leniency. Suni stated that he was the only person available to care for his elderly mother. Antony asserted that he had no active involvement in the assault and pointed out that he had already spent several years in custody, adding that his parents relied on him. Manikandan claimed that he had no role in the conspiracy and emphasised that his family depended on him as the sole earner. Vijeesh requested that the Court show leniency and, if possible, commit him to a prison closer to his home. Meanwhile, Vadival Salim and Pradeep reiterated that they were innocent.
Special Public Prosecutor Ajakumar opposed these pleas, submitting that the punishment must reflect the gravity of the crime and convey a strong deterrent message to society. He urged the Court to impose life imprisonment on all six convicts. Judge Honey Varghese orally remarked that the fact that Suni was the only one who actually committed the rape may have to be taken into account even though all parties to a conspiracy are equally liable for the offences committed.
Cause Title: State of Kerala v. Sunil N.S. @ Pulsar Suni and Ors.
Case No: SC 118 of 2018
Coram: Smt. Honey M Varghese
[Judgement Awaited]
