Kochi: The prosecution in the 2017 actress sexual assault case will seek life imprisonment for the six persons convicted by the trial court, which is scheduled to hear the quantum of sentence on Friday, officials said.

Ernakulam Principal Sessions Judge Honey M Varghese had on December 8 found the first six accused — Sunil alias Pulsar Suni, Martin Antony, Manikandan B, Vijesh V P, Salim H, and Pradeep — guilty. Actor Dileep, Charley Thomas, Sanil Kumar alias Mesthri Sanil, and Sarath were acquitted.

Special Public Prosecutor V Aja Kumar told PTI that the convicted individuals could face life imprisonment for three offences: rape, conspiracy, and abetment. 

“We will demand the maximum possible punishment, which is life imprisonment. We have presented evidence for it during the trial,” he said.

The court found the six men guilty under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (as applicable at the time) and the IT Act, including criminal conspiracy, wrongful confinement, gang rape, kidnapping or abducting a woman, abetment, and using criminal force on a woman with intent to outrage her modesty.

Kumar said the prosecution is awaiting the detailed copy of the judgment to understand the reasoning behind the acquittal of Dileep and three others.

“Only after receiving the judgment copy can we ascertain the reasons for Dileep’s acquittal. Claiming it as a prosecution failure is not appropriate until the reasons are confirmed,” he said. He added that preparations to move the Kerala High Court against the acquittals have already begun.

“On a personal level, I have started work to file the appeal. There will not be any delay once the judgment copy is received,” he said.

The assault, carried out on February 17, 2017, involved several men allegedly forcing their way into the actress’s car and holding it under their control for two hours before fleeing in a busy area. The incident had deeply shocked Kerala society.