Kochi: Special Public Prosecutor Adv V Aja Kumar has expressed disappointment over the trial court awarding only a 20-year jail term to the six convicts in the actress assault case. Speaking to the media, he said the quantum of punishment delivered by the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court sends a wrong message to society.

He clarified, however, that the prosecution had not faced any setback in the case. “Only the minimum sentence has been given to the convicts. This will send out a wrong message to society. I will recommend that the government file an appeal before the higher court against the trial court's verdict. I had argued for the maximum punishment. I am disappointed with the decision. Twenty years is the minimum conviction prescribed by Parliament. It is the prosecution’s right, not the court’s beneficence,” he said. 

At the same time, he added that he had faced many struggles in court over the last three-and-a-half years in pursuit of this crucial judgment. “I can’t say justice has not been served, but it is incomplete,” he said.

Disappointed, says survivor's counsel
Advocate Mini TB, counsel for the survivor, told Onmanorama that the punishment was inadequate. Citing the 2011 rape and murder case, in which Govindachamy was sentenced to life imprisonment till death, she said, “This crime is even more cruel, and a 20-year sentence is disappointing.” She added that she would comment further after examining the full judgment.

Mini said that, in effect, Suni, the main accused, will serve less than 10 years in prison as the remand period will be reduced from the sentence.

Pulsar Suni's advocate, Pratheeksh Kurup, said that, though they expected an acquittal in the case, the verdict is "reasonable" since the court found Suni guilty. "We will definitely appeal after receiving the copy of the judgement," he told Onmanorama.

The Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court on Friday sentenced all six convicts in the 2017 actress sexual assault case to 20 years’ rigorous imprisonment for gang rape (Section 376D) and criminal conspiracy (Section 120B). Principal Sessions Judge Honey M Varghese also imposed a fine of ₹50,000 on each convict. In case of non-payment, they must serve an additional year of imprisonment. The convicts — Sunil alias Pulsar Suni, Martin Antony, Manikandan B, Vijesh VP, Salim H and Pradeep — were brought to court from jail on Friday morning ahead of sentencing.

Pulsar Suni (A1) received an additional three years’ rigorous imprisonment and a ₹1 lakh fine under Section 66E of the IT Act for recording visuals of the assault. He was also given five years’ rigorous imprisonment and a fine of ₹1 lakh under Section 67A of the IT Act for sharing those visuals.

Martin Antony was awarded three years’ rigorous imprisonment and a ₹25,000 fine under Section 201 of the IPC for destroying evidence.

All six convicts were further sentenced to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment and a ₹25,000 fine each under Section 366 of the IPC for kidnapping.

The time all the convicts spent in judicial custody during the investigation, inquiry, or trial will be deducted from their final sentence, reducing the actual duration they must serve.