Kochi (Kerala) [India], December 12 (ANI): Pulsar Suni and five other accused were produced before the District Court in Kochi on Friday in connection with the 2017 actress assault case.
Speaking to reporters, the survivor’s advocate TB Mini said, “I am expecting judgment not only in this case but also in the case relating to the memory card and cases of contempt. The court had already said that Pulsar Suni and five others had committed the offence.”
Meanwhile, the Ernakulam Sessions Court had on Monday acquitted Malayalam actor and the eighth accused, Dileep, in the 2017 case. The case involved an actress who worked in Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu films and was allegedly abducted and molested inside her car by a group of men on the night of February 17, 2017. Dileep, accused of conspiring and hiring a gang to carry out the crime, was found not guilty of orchestrating the assault.
The charges against the accused include criminal conspiracy (120A, 120B), abetment (109), wrongful confinement (342, 357), kidnapping (366), outraging modesty (354), attempt to disrobe (354B), gang rape (376D), criminal intimidation (506(i)), destruction of evidence (201), harbouring an offender (212), and common intention (34). The trial, which began on March 8, 2018, has been lengthy and complex.
A total of 261 witnesses were examined, many in camera, including several prominent film personalities, with 28 witnesses turning hostile. Over the years, two special prosecutors stepped down, and the survivor’s request to replace the presiding judge was denied. The prosecution submitted 833 documents and 142 material objects, while the defence produced 221 documents. Witness examination alone spanned 438 days.
While Dileep expressed profound gratitude to his family, supporters, and legal team upon acquittal, the Kerala Government has decided to appeal against the judgment. Kerala Law Minister P. Rajeev said he discussed the matter with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and extended support to the actress. “The state government’s decision is to appeal against the trial court verdict in the actress’s attack case. Respected. Discussed this matter with the Chief Minister. The government is with the survivor,” Rajeev said on Facebook.
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