20-year rigorous imprisonment for all the six accused
IN the 2017 Malayalam actress abduction and assault case, a Kerala court has sentenced all six convicted accused to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment.
The verdict was pronounced on Friday, December 12, 2025, by the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court.
The six individuals were found guilty of various charges, including gang rape, kidnapping, and criminal conspiracy.
The prosecution had argued for the maximum penalty of life imprisonment, but the court delivered a sentence of 20 years in jail and a fine of ₹50,000 each.
Key Details of the Verdict
Convicted Accused: The court found the first six accused guilty:
Sunil NS, also known as 'Pulsar' Suni (prime accused)
Martin Antony
B Manikandan
VP Vijeesh
H Salim
Pradeep
Charges: They were convicted under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Information Technology (IT) Act, including gang rape (IPC Section 376D), kidnapping (IPC Section 366), and criminal conspiracy (IPC Section 120B).
Acquittal of Actor Dileep: Actor Dileep, who was the eighth accused in the case and alleged to be the mastermind behind the conspiracy, was acquitted of all charges due to insufficient evidence to prove his involvement beyond a reasonable doubt.
Government Action: The Kerala government has announced its decision to appeal Dileep's acquittal in the High Court, stating that it stands with the survivor and wants to ensure complete justice.
