Co-accused denied bail pending appeal in actor assault case

The Kerala High Court has dismissed the bail petitions of two individuals, Salim alias Vadival Salim and Pradeep, who were convicted in the 2017 actor assault case. The petitions sought their release on bail while their appeals against the conviction are pending.

A bench of Justices V. Raja Vijayaraghavan and K.V. Jayakumar found no exceptional circumstances to justify suspending their sentences. The court noted that the nature of the offense, which involved abduction and gang rape, has deeply shocked the collective conscience of society. It was emphasized that such acts violate a woman's dignity, bodily autonomy, and sense of security.

Salim, the fifth accused, and Pradeep, the sixth accused, were sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment by the Ernakulam sessions court on December 12, 2025. They had argued that they were merely passengers in the vehicle and had no active role in the commission of the crime.

However, the prosecution and the survivor's counsel argued that both petitioners were integral to the conspiracy. The court observed that there was prima facie sufficient evidence linking Pulsar Suni, the prime accused, with Salim and Pradeep. The bench concluded that the petitioners acted in furtherance of the conspiracy and executed the plan precisely, leading to the dismissal of their bail pleas.