india

Kerala HC admits state appeal for harsher punishment in 2017 actor assault case

Published on: 22 Jun 2026, 10:24 AM

The Kerala High Court on Monday admitted the state government's appeal seeking enhancement of punishment for those convicted in the 2017 actor assault case, as well as challenging the acquittal of four other accused, including actor Dileep.

The state's plea argues that the sentences imposed by the Ernakulam Sessions Court are inadequate. That court had convicted six individuals and sentenced each to 20 years' imprisonment on two counts of gang rape, 10 years for assault and criminal force with intent to disrobe, and one year for wrongful confinement. The convicted were also found guilty of destroying evidence and distributing obscene images.

In addition, four of the six convicted persons have applied for suspension of their sentences, which the High Court admitted earlier this month. The High Court will now hear arguments on both the state's appeal and the suspension pleas.

The case, which dates back to 2017, involves the abduction and sexual assault of a prominent actress. The trial concluded in 2022, with the Sessions Court delivering the verdict. The state's appeal seeks to ensure that the punishment reflects the gravity of the offences, while also holding all accused accountable.

Source: The Hindu

Latest in India 10

india

Every Cyclone-Hit Farmer Will Get Maximum Support, Union Minister Assures Andhra Pradesh

Union Minister of State Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar has assured farmers in Andhra Pradesh that the Centre will provide maximum possible assistance after cyclones Arnab and Murasu damaged paddy, black gram and cotton crops. He said ₹20,000 is already being given under the Annadata Sukhibhava-PM Kisan scheme, with an input subsidy to follow once losses are enumerated within 48 to 72 hours.

The Hindu 04 Nov 2026, 01:40 PM

india

SCR Runs Special Train for 1,226 Stranded at Kazipet as Cyclone Murasu Disrupts Rail Traffic

The South Central Railway operated a special train for 1,226 passengers stranded at Kazipet after Cyclone Murasu forced four long-distance trains to be diverted via the station. It accommodated 278 passengers on an existing express and ran a special service to Vijayawada for the rest, while also holding pension awareness camps.

The Hindu 04 Nov 2026, 01:40 PM

india

Ragging complaint at GMC Kamareddy: 14 second-year MBBS students suspended, four face six-month bar

Fourteen second-year MBBS students at Government Medical College, Kamareddy, have been suspended after a ragging complaint reached the National Medical Commission. Four students face six-month suspensions and the remaining 10 four months, with the college preparing an action-taken report for the regulator. Accounts of the incident differ, and the college has not published the inquiry committee's detailed findings.

The Hindu 04 Nov 2026, 01:43 PM

india

Telangana eases Fire NOC rules for older schools and colleges — what changes and what stays

The Telangana Fire Services Department has simplified Fire NOC norms for existing schools and junior and intermediate colleges, allowing them to keep current open spaces and use water curtains where setbacks fall short. Other safety requirements, including alarms, sprinklers, clear escape routes and safety committees, remain in force, and occupancy NOCs will be valid for three years.

The Hindu 04 Nov 2026, 01:43 PM

india

VTU Ends Supplementary Exam Wait: Students Can Now Take Papers On Demand, Results in 24 Hours

Visvesvaraya Technological University will hold on-demand semester examinations, allowing students who missed or failed a paper to take it at a time convenient to them, even on public holidays. The university, which has around three lakh students across 220 affiliated colleges, will declare results within 24 hours and use AI to prepare question papers. Eligibility, schedules and application details will be announced shortly.

The Hindu 04 Nov 2026, 01:47 PM

india

Supreme Court says two-child disqualification laws have lost relevance as India's fertility falls

The Supreme Court has said that laws disqualifying people with more than two children from panchayat posts have lost relevance as India’s fertility rate has declined. A Bench of Justices P.S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe said the constitutional validity of such laws must be judged against contemporary realities, while noting that courts cannot direct the legislature to repeal them. The remarks came in a plea involving a woman whose election as sarpanch was set aside under Maharashtra law.

The Hindu 04 Nov 2026, 01:50 PM

india

After Murasu floods, Guntur launches chlorination drive to keep drinking water safe

The Rural Water Supply Department in Guntur district has begun chlorination and super-chlorination of drinking water schemes in villages affected by floods after Cyclone Murasu, with field staff inspecting each scheme for contamination. Officials, acting on the District Collector's advance instructions, filled schemes to capacity before the cyclone. Residents have been advised to boil and cool water before drinking.

The Hindu 04 Nov 2026, 01:51 PM

india

Karnataka Will Cut Bus Fares If Centre Trims Diesel Price, Says Deputy CM Shivakumar

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has defended the recent bus fare hike, saying it was forced by higher diesel prices, and said the State is willing to cut fares proportionately if the Centre reduces diesel rates. He cited financial stress at state-run transport corporations and the cost of the Shakti free-travel scheme for women, while Opposition parties have called a state-wide protest against the increase.

The Hindu 04 Nov 2026, 01:54 PM

india

Dalit Groups March in Dharwad Over Three Atrocity Cases, Seek Action Against Police

A coalition of Dalit organisations marched from Kalabhavan to the Dharwad Superintendent of Police's office on November 3, demanding justice for three families who allege they faced atrocities in the district. The groups accused the police of delaying registration of the victims' complaints while filing counter-cases against their relatives, and sought a higher-level inquiry and action against the officers concerned. The report did not include a response from the district police.

The Hindu 04 Nov 2026, 05:12 AM

india

30 children out of school rescued from fish factory premises in Udupi

Thirty children aged between six and 14 were taken from a fish factory in Brahmavar taluk of Udupi district on November 3 by a special women's police team and Education Department officials. The police said the children, offspring of factory employees, had been living around the premises and were not attending school. Seven girls were moved to a girls' home and 23 boys to a boys' home after being produced before the Child Welfare Committee.

The Hindu 04 Nov 2026, 05:16 AM

→ View All India News