The prime accused of the 2017 actress assault case, Pulsar Suni, has been granted bail by the Supreme Court on Tuesday. Suni has been in jail since February 2017, after being named the prime accused in a case of abduction and sexual assault of a prominent actress in Kochi on February 17, 2017.
Suni said accused actor Dileep of being the mastermind.
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'Pulsar' Suni, whose real name is Sunil N.S., said in his bail plea that his trial had faced unnecessary complications due to the actor's involvement and the delay, leading to a seven-and-a-half-year pre-trial detention. In his plea, he also mentioned his mother's declining health and the need for him to be present with her and his family.
Justices Abhay S. Oka and Pankaj Mithal, while allowing the bail, ordered Suni to appear before the court for his release on bail within the week.
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This is the second time that Suni has been granted bail. Last year, he was given a one-day bail to perform the last rites of his father, in April.
Suni has appealed for bail multiple times over the years, to both the Kerala High Court and Supreme Court, but was denied.
On June 3, upon filing his 10th bail application, Suni was fined Rs 25,000 for using different lawyers to file for bail repeatedly.
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The bail comes a month after the release of the Hema Committee report, which details harassment against women and pay disparity in the Malayalam film industry. The report was an initiative of the Women's Collective in Cinema (WCC), which was formed in response to the 2017 assault case.
What happened in 2017?
The actress was allegedly abducted and sexually assaulted by five men, inside a moving car in the late hours of February 17, 2017, in Kochi. Suni had worked as a driver for multiple celebrities. The assault was videotaped by the perpetrators, to be used to blackmail her.
The actress filed an FIR against them the same night.
Three people were arrested the following day, including Suni, who alleged Dileep planned the assault.
Speculations were rife that the actress instigated Dileep's now ex-wife Manju Warrier to file for divorce, and hence, the actor planned the attack as an act of revenge.
The police has arrested several persons in connection with the case. Dileep was also arrested and was later released on bail.