Ernakulam: A Kerala court on Friday sentenced six persons in the 2017 actress gangrape case to 20 of rigorous imprisonment.
Ernakulam District and Sessions Court judge Honey M Varghese pronounced the quantum of punishment for main accused Pulsar Suni and five others, reported Bar and Bench.
The six were pronounced guilty on December 8, when Malayalam actor Dileep, another accused in the case, was acquitted by the court.
On Friday, the court heard the six convicts on the question of sentence before pronouncing the punishment.
“Considering the mitigating circumstances, there is no circumstance warranting the maximum punishment. In view of the above, A1 to A6 are sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of 20 years and also to pay a fine of Rs 50,000 each for the offence punishable under Section 376D (gang rape) of IPC and in default of payment of fine to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of one year for the offence under
Section 376D,” the court ordered, Bar and Bench reported.
The judge concluded that the sensational nature of the case can’t alone influence its outcome and that the sentence seeks to balance various factors.
“This case has created a sensation, but the court should bear in mind that the sensational nature of the case does not make any impact on the mind of the court while awarding the sentence. The court, while awarding the sentence, has to balance justice for society and the offender by considering the crime’s aggravated history, reform potential of the accused, aggravating and mitigating factors, and the aims of punishment,” the judge said.
The gangrape survivor was on way to a film shoot in February 2017 when she was abducted and sexually assaulted by a group of men in a moving vehicle.
Videos of the assault on the actress were recorded by the culprits.
Martin Antony, the driver, was arrested the day after, while Sunil NS aka Pulsar Suni, a history sheeter, was nabbed within a week. Four others were later arrested, with Suni being named as first accused.
Actor Dileep was arrested in July 2017, for allegedly conspiring and orchestrating the sexual assault as part of revenge against the targeted actress who had informed his now ex-wife about his extramarital affair.
Dileep, however, was acquitted of all charges earlier this week.