State of Kerala vs. Sunil N.S. @ Pulsar Suni and others.
In India, some court cases are not merely criminal incidents—they also shape society, the justice system, the media, and public opinion. The case of "State of Kerala vs. Sunil N.S. @ Pulsar Suni and Others," commonly known as the Kerala actress abduction and sexual assault case (2017), is one such landmark case.
An eight-year-long legal journey, hundreds of witnesses, disputes over digital evidence, and intense public scrutiny—this case profoundly impacted the Indian judicial process.
What was this case about? — Summary of the incident
On the night of February 17, 2017, a Malayalam actress was abducted after her car was stopped. She was allegedly assaulted in a moving vehicle while on her way to Kochi.
- They were held hostage,
- sexually assaulted,
- and the incident was video recorded.
The main accused in this crime was Sunil N. S., also known as "Pulsar Suni."
The allegations stated that the attack was not merely a criminal incident, but a well-planned conspiracy involving a total of 10 accused.
The case remained in the media and public spotlight from the beginning, as a prominent actor from the film industry was accused of being involved in the conspiracy.
Court litigation and an 8-year-long trial
The characteristics of this case were:
- 261 witnesses
- Several witnesses turning hostile
- Disputes over digital video and memory cards
- Legal questions regarding the reliability of evidence
- Procedural delays
- And immense pressure on the judiciary
The trial began in March 2018 and took several turns, The most significant point of contention was: was this crime a conspiracy orchestrated by someone from the film industry?
This question remained central to the court proceedings for years.
The historic decision of December 8, 2025.
Finally, on December 8, 2025, the Sessions Court in Ernakulam delivered its verdict in the 8-year-long trial.
The court found six people guilty, including the main accused:
👉Pulsar Suni (A1)
They were charged under several serious sections of the Indian Penal Code:
- 120B — Criminal conspiracy
- 342 — Wrongful confinement
- 366 — Kidnapping
- 354, 354B — Use of force with intent to outrage a woman's modesty
- 376D — Gang rape
- IT Act — For recording and disseminating a video of the sexual assault
The court described the crime as an "extremely brutal and premeditated attack on a woman."
Some of the accused were acquitted.
The most prominent name, an actor, was acquitted due to lack of evidence and the inability to prove the conspiracy link.
This decision led to two contrasting viewpoints in society—on one hand, questions about the credibility of the court, and on the other hand, questions about the weaknesses of digital evidence.
Conclusion: The case of "State of Kerala vs. Sunil N.S. @ Pulsar Suni and others" has been etched into the annals of Indian judicial history, where crime, conspiracy, politics, the film industry, media trials, and justice all converged.
The verdict in this case serves as a lesson for future generations: Justice may be delayed, but when it is delivered, it sets a precedent.
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