2017 Kerala Actor Assault Case: Six Convicts Sentenced To 20 Years Of Rigorous Imprisonment

Last Updated:December 12, 2025, 18:02 IST

Kerala's Ernakulam court sentenced Sunil NS, Martin Antony, Manikandan B., Vijesh VP, Salim H., and Pradeep to 20 years for the 2017 actress assault.

The court announced the sentence to the convicted person by around 4.45 pm. (Representative image)

A court in Kerala’s Ernakulam on Friday sentenced six people convicted in the 2017 actress sexual assault case to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment. District and Principal Sessions Court Judge Honey M Varghese sentenced Sunil NS (Pulsar Suni), Martin Antony, Manikandan B., Vijesh VP, Salim H., and Pradeep for gang rape, with additional sentences for related offences to run concurrently.

The court also directed that the victim be paid Rs 5 lakh in compensation and that the pen drive containing the assault visuals remain in the custody of the investigating officer. On December 8, the court had acquitted four accused, including actor Dileep.

The six convicted individuals were found guilty under multiple IPC sections, including 120(B) (criminal conspiracy), 342 (wrongful confinement), 354(B) and 354 (assault on a woman), 357 (attempt to wrongfully confine), 366 (abduction), and 376(D) (gang rape). They were also convicted under IT Act sections 66E (privacy violation) and 67(A) (transmission of sexually explicit content).

During the hearing on sentencing, the court heard submissions from the defence and prosecution. The convicts sought leniency, citing family responsibilities and health issues. Martin and Pradeep broke down in court, claiming innocence. Special Public Prosecutor V. Aja Kumar argued for the maximum punishment of life imprisonment, stressing the gravity of the crime, news agency PTI reported.

Throughout the proceedings, the court observed that Suni’s actions were more grievous than those of the others and questioned whether identical sentences could be imposed on all under Section 376(D). The judge also urged lawyers and the media not to criticise the judicial process.

The 2017 assault, in which the accused allegedly took control of the actress’s car for two hours, had shocked Kerala. Suni sexually assaulted and filmed the actress with the help of the others. Actor Dileep, accused of conspiracy, was later acquitted after a nearly six-year trial.

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