Archive · 23 Jul 2026
Kerala HC denies sentence suspension for two in 2017 actress assault case
The Kerala High Court has decided not to suspend the 20-year jail sentences of two men involved in the 2017 assault of an actress.
The court looked at the evidence and thought the crime was very serious.
The two men, Saleem H and Pradeep, asked to have their sentences suspended while they appeal, but the court said no because the evidence against them was strong.
The court also thought about how the crime affected society and the need to keep people's trust in the justice system.
The case is about the abduction and assault of an actress while she was traveling in a car.
The Kerala High Court denied the suspension of the 20-year jail sentence for Saleem H and Pradeep in the 2017 actress assault case.
The court considered the seriousness of the crime and its societal impact in its decision.
The defense argued for suspension during their appeals, but the court found no significant infirmities in the Sessions Judge's judgment.
The case involves the abduction and sexual assault of a multi-lingual actress while traveling from Thrissur to Kochi.
Six people were sentenced to 20 years in prison, while actor Dileep and three others were acquitted.
- Who
- Saleem H and Pradeep, two of the six accused in the 2017 actress assault case
- What
- The Kerala High Court declined to suspend their 20-year jail sentence
- When
- The decision was made on July 23, 2024
- Where
- Kerala High Court, Kochi
- Why
- The court considered the seriousness of the crime, public interest, and societal impact
Defense Argument
Court's Decision
Suspension of Sentence
Defense Argument
The defense argued for the suspension of the 20-year jail sentence during the pendency of their appeals, citing potential infirmities in the judgment.
Court's Decision
The court denied the suspension, stating that the findings of the Sessions Judge were not unreasonable or perverse enough to justify suspension.
- Date of Incident
- February 17, 2017
- Location of Incident
- Between Thrissur and Kochi, Kerala
- Number of Accused
- Six
- Sentence
- 20 years imprisonment
- Acquitted Individuals
- Actor Dileep and three others
