The Kerala High Court on Tuesday has dismissed a plea by Sunil N S, also known as Pulsar Suni, the prime accused in the 2017 actress assault case, seeking the recall of two witnesses examined during the trial.
The court described the application as “frivolous” and aimed at “delaying” the case’s resolution.
Justice C Jayachandran noted that the evidence the accused sought to introduce by recalling the two witnesses was “not essential for a just decision of the case.” The judge further pointed out that the trial had commenced on January 30, 2020, and the Supreme Court had extended the time limit for its disposal multiple times. The court emphasized that the plea appeared to be a tactic to postpone the matter and criticized Suni for attempting to complain about the lack of opportunity when he had already had ample time to act during the trial.
Suni had approached the High Court after his request to recall two forensic experts—one a doctor who collected samples for forensic examination and the other the Assistant Director of the Forensic Science Laboratory was rejected by the Sessions Court. He argued that his lawyer could not properly cross-examine the witnesses due to his judicial custody until September 2024.
However, the High Court rejected this argument, stating that Suni had attended the trial throughout the past 2 years and had sufficient opportunities to provide instructions to his lawyer.
The case involves the abduction and alleged molestation of the actress, who has worked in Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam cinema. On the night of February 17, 2017, she was forcibly taken in her car by a group of men, who filmed the assault in order to blackmail her.
There are 10 accused in the case, including actor Dileep, of whom seven have been arrested. Dileep was also arrested but later released on bail.
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