Kerala HC declines to suspend sentence of two accused in 2017 actress assault case

Kerala High Court declined to suspend the sentence of two accused, Saleem H and Pradeep, in the 2017 actress assault case.

The court cited the seriousness of the crime, societal impact, and need to preserve public confidence in criminal justice.

The two accused had sought suspension of their 20-year jail sentence during appeals, but the court found no patent infirmity or perversity in the conviction.

Earlier, on July 9, the High Court denied suspension of sentence to prime accused Sunil N S, also known as Pulsar Suni.

The sessions court sentenced six persons, including Sunil, Saleem, and Pradeep, to 20 years for gang rape; actor Dileep and three others were acquitted.