Why Pulsar Suni’s bail highlights a broken justice system

Pulsar Suni, the prime accused in the Kerala actor assault case, will soon walk out of the Ernakulam District Jail. The Supreme Court, on September 17, 2024, granted him bail saying that “the trial is not likely to be concluded within a reasonable time”. And with that, all the accused in the 2017 actor abduction and sexual assault case will be out on bail. 

Seven years ago, on February 17, 2017, Pulsar Suni and five others abducted a top female actor and sexually assaulted her in a moving vehicle in Kochi. Suni was arrested on February 23, 2017. He has never denied his crime to the police or the court. Actor Dileep is accused of hiring and orchestrating the entire crime. Dileep, who spent 80 days in jail, was granted bail in October 2017.

In the seven years since his arrest, Suni has approached the Kerala High Court 10 times and the top court thrice with a bail plea.

Section 437(6) of the CrPC notes that “if the trial of a person accused of any non-bailable offence is not concluded” within a period of 60 days from the time the evidence is taken, then he can be released on bail to the satisfaction of the Magistrate.