Kerala actress assault case: Accused Pulsar Suni files third bail plea before Supreme Court

Sunil NS, also known as 'Pulsar' Suni, an accused in the 2017 Kerala actress assault case in which Malayalam cine actor Dileep is implicated, has approached the Supreme Court a third time seeking bail [Sunil NS v State of Kerala]..In his latest bail plea, Suni has stated that although he is not disputing the seriousness of the alleged crime, the criminal trial process should not become his punishment."There are still many witnesses to be examined. The trial is taking various twists and turns due to incidents for which the petitioner has no role. Purely because (another accused) is a celebrity, the trial has been prolonged in many ways. The petitioner here is suffering pre-trial detention for more than seven years," the plea added. Suni also highlighted that his family has been ostracised due to his implication in the case. His aged mother is also not keeping well, the plea said."The petitioner’s presence would be an immediate console and assurance to the family," the plea added. The matter is likely to be listed before the top court on August 12. .Suni is among those accused of being part of a conspiracy to abduct and sexually assault a prominent film actress in 2017.The actress was abducted, driven around in a car, photographed, and sexually assaulted, allegedly at actor Dileep’s behest.Suni was arrested in February 2017 and arrayed as the first accused in the infamous case. He has remained in jail since then..Notably, the Kerala High Court had on June 3 dismissed Suni's tenth bail application (overall), while ordering him to pay ₹25,000 as costs for filing "bail application after bail application" by engaging different lawyers.This High Court order has now been challenged before the Supreme Court. The plea added that although the examination of almost all witnesses is complete, the trial is unlikely to end soon as a further probe is ongoing.Suni has, thus, sought an interim stay of the High Court order..Suni had first moved the Kerala High Court for bail in March 2022 which was rejected. He had then moved the Supreme Court for relief, which in July 2022 declined to grant him bail.However, the top court had said that if the trial is not concluded within a reasonable time, Suni may renew his bail application before the High Court.Subsequently, he approached the High Court again which rejected his bail plea on March 6, 2023. The High Court reasoned that the accused could not be released on bail given the gravity of the offence.This verdict was also challenged before the Supreme Court and in April last year, the top court denied Suni bail for the second time..Advocates Sriram Parakkat and Satheesh Mohanan are representing Suni.