Actress attack case: Accused not given maximum punishment, minister says further action will be taken after examination

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister Saji Cherian has reacted after the six accused in the actress attack case were sentenced. Saji Cherian said that the six accused in such a heinous case did not get the maximum punishment. The minister said that further action will be taken after examining whether there is any deficiency in the punishment in the case, and reiterated that the government is with the victim. "The reason why it was said that we will study it and take further action is because the maximum punishment was not given. There was no lapse in the prosecution. The court had already said that the six accused were guilty, that they had committed a serious crime and that there was clear evidence. There was no lapse in that. The prosecution did what it should have done," the minister responded.

"We cannot say anything authoritatively without examining and studying the court verdict. We wanted the maximum punishment to be given. That is what we expected. But as long as the maximum punishment is not given, the government will move forward with the victim, understanding the matter," Saji Cherian told the media. The minister's response was at the inauguration of the IFFK.

The trial court sentenced the accused one to six in the case. Suni, Martin, Manikandan, VP Vijeesh, Vadival Salim and Pradeep, were sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine. The court also said that five lakh rupees should be paid to the victim from the fine awarded to the accused in various cases. The actress was attacked on February 17, 2017. The verdict in the case comes after eight years.