Sunil N S, popularly known as Pulsar Suni, has filed a criminal appeal before the Kerala High Court challenging his conviction and sentence in the 2017 abduction and sexual assault case involving a well-known Malayalam film actress. The appeal has been filed against the judgment of the Principal Sessions Court, Ernakulam, which found him guilty of multiple offences arising out of the incident and sentenced him to twenty years of rigorous imprisonment along with the imposition of fines.
The trial court had convicted Pulsar Suni for offences including criminal conspiracy, wrongful confinement, outraging the modesty of a woman, assault with intent to disrobe, abduction, and gang rape under the Indian Penal Code. He was also convicted under provisions of the Information Technology Act for offences related to the recording and handling of electronic material connected to the crime. The Sessions Court ordered that a substantial portion of the fine amount be paid to the survivor as compensation. Several co-accused were also convicted and sentenced, while one accused, a prominent actor named in the case, was acquitted on the ground that the prosecution failed to establish his role in the alleged conspiracy.
In his appeal, Pulsar Suni has challenged both the findings of guilt and the procedure adopted during investigation and trial. He has alleged that the investigation suffered from serious procedural lapses and irregularities, including delays in registration of the case, defects in arrest procedures, and failure to conduct a proper test identification parade. According to the appellant, these shortcomings weakened the prosecution case and were not adequately considered by the trial court while arriving at the conviction.
The appeal further questions the reliance placed on identification evidence, call detail records, SIM card usage, and other electronic materials. The appellant has argued that the digital and electronic evidence relied upon by the prosecution was either unreliable, improperly collected, or insufficiently corroborated. He has contended that the handling and preservation of electronic and biological evidence were defective and that the prosecution failed to establish an unbroken chain of custody. The appeal also points to alleged contradictions and inconsistencies in witness testimonies, asserting that these were overlooked by the trial court.
Pulsar Suni has described the prosecution case as false and fabricated, claiming that it was the outcome of a biased and one-sided investigation. He has asserted that material contradictions exist regarding key aspects of the prosecution narrative, including the sequence of events, the identification of the accused, and the interpretation of forensic and electronic evidence. According to the appellant, the cumulative effect of these deficiencies rendered the prosecution’s case incapable of meeting the standard of proof beyond reasonable doubt.
Along with the criminal appeal, Pulsar Suni has also filed an application seeking suspension of his sentence during the pendency of the appeal. He has pointed out that he has already undergone nearly eight years of incarceration during the investigation, trial, and post-conviction period. He has argued that continued detention during the appeal would be unjustified, particularly given the time that the High Court may take to finally decide the matter. The application seeks interim relief until the appeal is heard and disposed of on merits.
Other convicted accused in the same case have also approached the Kerala High Court by filing separate appeals challenging their convictions and sentences. These appeals have already been admitted, and the respondents have been granted time to file objections. The High Court has scheduled further proceedings in those appeals, indicating that the matter will be examined in detail at the appellate stage.
The case arises from a widely reported incident in which the actress was abducted while travelling in a vehicle and subjected to sexual assault over several hours. The prosecution alleged that the crime was carried out as part of a criminal conspiracy and that the assault was recorded using electronic devices. The trial court relied on witness testimonies, forensic material, and electronic evidence to arrive at its conclusions, though these aspects now form the central focus of the challenges raised before the High Court.
The appeal filed by Pulsar Suni is pending consideration before the Kerala High Court. The court is yet to hear the appeal in detail or pass orders on the application seeking suspension of sentence. The outcome of the appellate proceedings will determine whether the convictions and sentences imposed by the Sessions Court will be upheld, modified, or set aside.
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