Kochi, December 8, 2025 —
In a landmark judgment that concludes one of Kerala’s most closely followed criminal trials, the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court on Monday convicted six individuals — including prime accused Sunil N.S., known as Pulsar Suni — in the 2017 Malayalam actress abduction and assault case. Actor Dileep (P. Gopalakrishnan), listed as the eighth accused and alleged conspirator, was acquitted due to lack of conclusive evidence.
Convictions
The court found the following six accused guilty of the charges, which include gang rape (Section 376D IPC), criminal conspiracy (120B), kidnapping (366), and wrongful confinement (342):
- N.S. Sunil alias Pulsar Suni
- Martin Antony
- Manikandan B.
- Vineesh V.P.
- Salim H.
- Pradeep
The court held that Pulsar Suni led the execution of the assault and recorded the act inside the moving vehicle on the night of 17 February 2017.
Acquittals
Actor Dileep and three other accused were acquitted. The court stated that the prosecution had failed to establish a criminal conspiracy beyond reasonable doubt, particularly regarding Dileep’s alleged involvement in hiring the attackers out of personal enmity.
Sentencing
The court will pronounce the quantum of punishment on December 12, 2025.
Background
The case began when a leading Malayalam actress was abducted and assaulted in a moving car near Kochi in 2017. The incident, allegedly filmed for blackmail, triggered widespread outrage and led to a massive police investigation. The trial extended over eight and a half years, involving 261 witnesses, numerous forensic examinations, and multiple procedural delays. Issues such as alleged tampering of the memory card containing assault visuals further complicated proceedings.
Despite these challenges, the court concluded that the direct perpetrators were clearly identifiable and guilty, while evidence against Dileep did not meet the legal threshold for conviction.
