Kerala actor assault case: High Court rejects prime accused Sunil’s plea to suspend jail term
The Kerala High Court on Tuesday (July 14, 2026) rejected the plea for suspension of sentence by N.S. Sunil, a.k.a ‘Pulsar’ Suni, the first accused
The Kerala High Court on Tuesday (July 14, 2026) rejected the plea for suspension of sentence by N.S. Sunil, a.k.a ‘Pulsar’ Suni, the first accused in the actor assault case of 2017. A Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan and K.V. Jayakumar held that the finding of the Ernakulam Sessions Court was reasonable and that there were no grounds to justify the suspension of the petitioner’s sentence. The court considered the nature of the offence, the manner of commission, the seriousness of the crime, the sentence imposed by the sessions court, and the criminal history of the accused in 11 crimes.
It also assessed his alleged involvement in another criminal case while he was on bail in this case and the violation of the conditions of bail imposed by the court while deciding on the suspension of sentence. Sunil had contended that he had undergone eight years' imprisonment and that the sessions court had not considered vital contradictions in the prosecution’s evidence. He also argued that it would take several years for the court to dispose of the pending appeals by the other accused and the State in this matter, and that Mr. Sunil should be released on bail after his punishment is suspended.
While dismissing his petition, the High court held that the gravity of the offences committed by the accused “extended beyond the individual victim and struck at the dignity, bodily autonomy, and sense of security of women.” Six of the accused were convicted by the sessions court, and each was awarded 20 years’ imprisonment on two counts of gang rape, 10 years’ imprisonment for assault and use of criminal force on a woman with the intent to disrobe her, and one year’s simple imprisonment for wrongful confinement. The sessions court had also found them guilty on the charges of destruction of evidence and taking and distributing obscene images.
State’s plea pending A petition by the State is pending before the High Court seeking increased punishments for the convicted persons and challenging the acquittal of four of the accused, including actor Dileep. The survivor’s plea to re-investigate the alleged leak of the memory card containing visuals of the crime is also under consideration of the High Court.
The BriefWire