Actress assault case: Kerala High Court refuses to suspend sentences of two more convicts

The Kerala High Court has refused to suspend the jail sentences of two convicts in a high-profile actress assault case. H Saleem alias Vadival Salim and C Pradeep had appealed against their conviction and sentence, seeking suspension of their jail term pending appeal. The court observed that there was prima facie material to show that the two accused had participated in the criminal conspiracy to commit the alleged offences.

The Kerala High Court has dismissed pleas by H Saleem alias Vadival Salim and C Pradeep to suspend their jail sentences in a 2017 actress abduction and sexual assault case. The court's decision was made by a Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice KV Jayakumar on July 17. This ruling is significant as it affects the liberty of two individuals convicted in a high-profile case.

The case involves the kidnapping and rape of a prominent actress in 2017, with six persons found guilty by an Ernakulam trial court. The convicts were sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment of 20 years for the crime. Salim and Pradeep's appeals against their conviction and sentence are pending before the High Court.

The Kerala High Court's decision not to suspend the jail sentences of Salim and Pradeep is a significant development in this high-profile case. The court's observation that there was prima facie material to show that the two accused had participated in the criminal conspiracy to commit the alleged offences suggests that the prosecution has presented strong evidence against them. This ruling may have implications for the appeals of other convicts in the case, who are also seeking suspension of their jail sentences pending appeal.

The Kerala High Court's decision not to suspend the jail sentences of Salim and Pradeep is a significant development in this high-profile case. Practitioners should note that the court's observation on prima facie material suggests strong evidence against the accused, which may have implications for their appeals.