Kochi: Pulsar Suni has been granted bail in the case involving the assault of an actress but with stringent conditions. The court has imposed strict regulations on mobile phone use, including prohibiting using any additional SIM cards, requiring the phone details to be submitted to the court, barring him from leaving Ernakulam district, and forbidding him from speaking to the media. The bail was granted by the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court. During the hearing of the bail application, the prosecution argued that the victim’s privacy and safety are paramount. However, the Supreme Court stated that while bail was granted, it is the trial court’s prerogative to set the conditions.
When the prosecution claimed that Suni’s life was in danger, the court responded that it was the police’s responsibility to ensure the safety of citizens.
Released After Seven and a Half Years
Suni has been imprisoned since February 23, 2017. It is after seven and a half years that the Supreme Court has granted him bail. The Supreme Court criticized the actions of the trial courts sharply while allowing bail. The court noted that Suni has been incarcerated for the past seven and a half years and remarked that there appears to be no end in sight for the trial in this case.
The court has instructed that Suni must appear in the trial court within a week to be released on bail. The Supreme Court clarified that it is up to the trial court to determine the bail conditions, and any demands for stricter bail conditions can be raised by the state government before the trial court.
The state government had earlier pointed out to the Supreme Court that Baiju Paulose, the investigating officer in the case, had been questioned for 87 days over seven months by the lawyer of the eighth accused, Dileep. The Supreme Court severely criticized the trial court for allowing such prolonged questioning of an investigating officer by the defense attorney of one of the accused.
It was noted by Suni’s lawyer in the Supreme Court that the prosecution did not raise any objections during this extended questioning. The Supreme Court subsequently criticized both the state government and the prosecution for not contesting the lengthy examination.
The Supreme Court acknowledged the defense’s point that the trial has been dragging on indefinitely and that all other accused in the case have been granted bail. Thus, the court decided to grant bail to Suni. Currently, Suni is held at the Ernakulam Sub Jail. He had previously approached the High Court multiple times seeking bail, but his applications had been rejected.
