Overview
- Ernakulam Principal Sessions Judge Honey M. Varghese sentenced N. S. Sunil alias Pulsar Suni, Martin Antony, Manikandan B, Vijeesh V P, Salim H, and Pradeep to 20 years’ rigorous imprisonment for gang rape.
- The court found them guilty of gang rape, criminal conspiracy, abduction, wrongful confinement, outraging modesty, and offences under the IT Act linked to a recorded video of the assault in a moving car.
- All punishments will run concurrently with the period already spent in custody set off against the term, each convict was fined Rs 50,000 with a one-year default sentence, and the first accused received additional IT Act sentences; the second accused got three years for destruction of evidence.
- The survivor was awarded Rs 5 lakh as compensation, and the pen drive containing the visuals will remain in the investigating officer’s custody.
- Special Public Prosecutor V. Aja Kumar called the sentence inadequate and said he will recommend an appeal, while Kerala ministers said the government will review the judgment; four others, including actor Dileep, were acquitted on December 8.