Kerala High Court Rejects Suspension of Sentence for Second Accused in 2017 Actor Assault Case
The Kerala High Court has refused to suspend the sentence of Martin Antony, the second accused in the 2017 actor assault case. A Division Bench comprising Justice V. Raja Vijayaraghavan and Justice K.V. Jayakumar dismissed his plea, citing prima facie evidence of his involvement in the crime.
The court noted that Antony had aided the commission of the offence and participated in the conspiracy. Call detail records revealed that he was in constant touch with N.S. Sunil alias Pulsar, the first accused, and had sent a message shortly before the fake accident that was staged to stop the survivor's car.
Antony had argued that the prosecution had not adequately proved the charges against him, asserting that he was neither a passenger, witness, nor driver of the car in which the assault took place. He also pointed out that he had been arrested in 2017, had spent more than five years in imprisonment, and had been serving his sentence since December 2025.
The Division Bench had earlier denied similar suspension pleas from Sunil, along with Saleem and Pradeep, the fifth and sixth accused respectively. The court's consistent stance underscores the gravity of the charges and the strength of the evidence presented by the prosecution.
The case dates back to 2017, when a famous Malayalam actress was abducted and assaulted inside her car. Six of the ten accused were convicted by the Sessions Judge, Ernakulam, in 2025. Each was found guilty of multiple offences, including two counts of gang rape, assault, use of criminal force with intent to disrobe, wrongful confinement, destruction of evidence, and taking and distributing obscene images.
The High Court's decision to uphold the sentences of the convicts, at least in terms of refusing suspension, reflects the seriousness with which the judiciary views crimes against women. It also sends a clear message that the law will not show leniency to those found guilty of such heinous acts.
While the legal process continues, the survivor's ordeal and the subsequent trial have drawn significant attention to issues of women's safety and the need for swift justice. The court's ruling is a step towards ensuring that the convicts serve their sentences, even as the larger legal battle may proceed to higher courts.
This development is part of a broader judicial approach in India to deal firmly with sexual assault cases, especially those involving celebrities, which often attract public scrutiny. The refusal to suspend sentences is based on the merits of the case and the evidence on record, as per the law.
