Actress assault case: Survivor’s counsel calls verdict disappointing, says Suni may serve less than 10 years

Kochi: Adv TB Mini, counsel for the survivor in the 2017 actress abduction and assault case, strongly criticised the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court’s decision to award only 20 years’ imprisonment to the convicts. Speaking to Onmanorama, she described the quantum of punishment pronounced by Justice Honey M Varghese as both inadequate and disappointing. Referring to the 2011 Soumya 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 jail term is disappointing.” Mini added that she would comment further after examining the judgment in detail.

She pointed out that the time all accused have already spent in judicial custody during the investigation, inquiry, and trial will be deducted from their final sentence — significantly reducing the total period they must serve. “Suni, the main convict, will end up serving less than 10 years in prison once the remand period is deducted,” she said.

Speaking to the media, she also questioned the judiciary for considering the convicts’ age while determining the quantum of punishment. She alleged that the court failed to fully factor in the survivor’s ordeal before awarding what she described as the minimum possible sentence to the six men found guilty.

The Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court on Monday convicted six people -- Sunil alias Pulsar Suni, Martin Antony, Manikandan B, Vijesh VP, Salim H and Pradeep -- in the 2017 actress assault case. On Friday, the judge sentenced all six to 20 years’ rigorous imprisonment for gang rape (Section 376D) and criminal conspiracy (Section 120B). The judge also imposed a fine of ₹50,000 on each convict. In case of non-payment, they must serve an additional year of imprisonment. 

Pulsar Suni 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 crime happened in February 2017 in Angamaly when the survivor was travelling by car from Thrissur to Ernakulam. A vehicle rear-ended her car, following which a few people got into a fight with the driver and forcefully entered the survivor's car, purportedly to settle the dispute. They drove the car towards Ernakulam along the National Highway. On the way, the actress was allegedly subjected to sexual assault by the first accused, Pulsar Suni. 

He recorded the act on his mobile phone. The actress was then abandoned in front of the house of a film director, and the accused fled the scene.

The police have booked 10 people in the case. However, the court acquitted four accused, including actor Dileep.