Pulsar Suni And Five Others Sentenced To 20 Years In 2017 Kerala Actor Assault Case

Gangster Pulsar Suni and five others convicted in the 2017 Kerala actor abduction and sexual assault case have been sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment each by the Ernakulam Additional Special Sessions Court on Friday.

The 20-year term is the minimum punishment prescribed for gang rape under Indian law.

The court also imposed a fine of ₹50,000 on each of the six convicts and directed that ₹5 lakh in compensation be paid to the survivor.

Special Judge Honey M Varghese delivered the sentencing order, calling the assault a “supreme violation of the dignity of a woman.” However, she added that there was no reason to impose the maximum sentence, noting that all six convicts were below 40 years old and only one had a criminal history.

Judge Honey Varghese said that while punishment should act as a deterrent, the court “shall not be carried away by sensation or bias.” She stressed that the high-profile nature of the case and public pressure cannot influence a judicial decision.

The judge also issued instructions to Investigating Officer Baiju Paulose to safely preserve the memory card containing the assault visuals, which remains a crucial piece of evidence.

The court sentenced the following men to 20 years each:

• Pulsar Suni (A1)

• Martin Antony (A2)

• B Manikandan (A3)

• Vijeesh VP (A4)

• Salim H alias Vadival Salim (A5)

• Pradeep (A6)

They were convicted of criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, using criminal force, and gang rape. All six were also convicted under Sections 66E and 67A of the IT Act for recording the assault on a mobile device.

Under Section 67A, Pulsar Suni received an additional five years of rigorous imprisonment and a ₹1 lakh fine, but the court allowed his sentences to run concurrently, bringing his total effective sentence to 20 years.

Before the sentencing, the convicts pleaded for leniency:

• Pulsar Suni said he had an elderly mother with no one else to care for her.

• Martin Antony, breaking down repeatedly, said he had already spent years in jail for a crime he “did not commit,” and that his parents depend entirely on his earnings.

• Manikandan said his wife and two small children rely solely on his income.

• Vijeesh asked the court to shift him to Kannur jail so he could be closer to home.

• Salim and Pradeep maintained they were innocent.

Public Prosecutor Aja Kumar pressed for the harshest sentence, urging the court to impose life imprisonment, saying the judgment should “send a strong message to society.” He cited the 2012 Nirbhaya case, arguing that all gang rape accused must face equal punishment.

Judge Varghese said judgments are based on law and evidence, not societal expectations. She noted that Suni was the one who committed the rape, while the others played roles in abduction, confinement, and aiding the assault. These distinctions, she said, must be reflected in sentencing.

The case concerns the abduction and sexual assault of a prominent woman actor inside a moving car in Kochi on February 17, 2017.
Pulsar Suni was arrested days after the incident.

Actor Dileep, who was accused of masterminding the assault and charged with criminal conspiracy, was acquitted on December 8 after the court found the evidence insufficient.

The trial began on January 30, 2020, and continued for nearly five years, involving over 200 witnesses, forensic analysis, and multiple legal challenges.
Judge Honey Varghese continued to preside over the trial despite attempts to replace her, with the Supreme Court also refusing to remove her.