Why Pulsar Suni will serve just 12.5 more years in 2017 actress assault case

Kochi: The Ernakulam District and Principal Sessions Court Judge Honey M Varghese on Friday sentenced Sunil NS, also known as Pulsar Suni, Martin Antony, Manikandan B, Vijesh VP, Salim H, and Pradeep to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for gang rape in the 2017 actress assault case.

Pulsar Suni, who has already spent seven and a half years in remand, will have to serve another twelve and a half years before completing his sentence.

The court also imposed a fine of ₹50,000 on each of them and stated that failure to pay the amount would lead to further imprisonment.

The defence had appealed for the period the accused spent in remand to be deducted from their total sentence. The court accepted this request. This adjustment means the accused will now serve only the remaining duration of their trial sentence.

The first accused, Pulsar Suni, who had already spent seven and a half years in pre-trial detention, will need to serve another twelve and a half years in prison. This also makes him the first among the convicts to be released upon completing his sentence.

Second accused Martin Antony will have to serve an additional 13 years, after having spent seven years in prison as a remand prisoner.

Third accused Manikandan B and fourth accused Vijesh VP will each serve a further 16 years and six months.

Fifth accused Salim H and sixth accused Pradeep will remain in prison for another 18 years. When parole and vacation days are deducted, the total sentence terms of the convicts will be reduced further. 

The convicted individuals were found guilty under IPC sections 120(B) (criminal conspiracy), 342 (wrongful confinement), 354(B) (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage modesty), 357 (assault or criminal force in attempt to wrongfully confine a person), 366 (abduction), 376(D) (gang rape), and under IT Act sections 66E (violation of privacy by capturing or transmitting images of a private area without consent) and 67(A) (publishing or transmitting sexually explicit material).

(with inputs from PTI)