Judgment leaked? Key details of actor assault case verdict out a week before
KOCHI: Raising serious concerns about judicial confidentiality in the 2017 actor abduction and sexual assault case, a top advocates body on Tuesday confirmed it had received an anonymous letter detailing the crucial content of the verdict in the case, a week before it was pronounced. Dated December 2, the letter, sent by an Indian citizen, claimed that the upcoming verdict scheduled for December 8, 2025, in the high-profile case would exclude seventh accused Charly Thomas, eighth accused Gopalakrishnan alias Dileep, and the ninth accused Sanilkumar alias Mesthiri Sanil, and that judgment would be delivered only against the remaining six accused. The letter was sent to the Kerala High Court Advocates Association (KHCAA) which forwarded it to the Chief Justice on December 8, the same day the Ernakulam District and Principal Sessions Court pronounced its order. Association president Yeshwanth Shenoy confirmed to TNIE that the association did receive the letter and that it was forwarded to the Chief Justice for appropriate action. Describing the situation as a potential serious breach of confidentiality, Shenoy stressed that an inquiry ought to be initiated to determine how such sensitive information could have leaked. I have not yet received a response from the High Court. The content of the letter has the potential to denigrate the judicial system. Hence, a proper investigation is needed to find the origin of the letter, he said. According to the letter, there were 12 accused persons in the case, SC 118/2018 Pulsar Suni vs State of Kerala, pending before Ernakulam Principal District Judge Honey M Varghese. Among them, the 10th accused was made an approver, and the 11th and 12th accused were discharged. After this, 9 accused remained, it stated. Advocates association seeks thorough probe The letter alleged that Judge Honey M. Varghese prepared the judgment through her close associate, Shirley, and, by showing it to Sharath, a hotel businessman and the close companion of the 8th accused, secured a deal, and is going to pronounce this order on December 8, 2025. The letter claimed that two senior Kerala High Court judges and another judge, who is in charge of Ernakulam district, have extended support to her in all matters, which is what encourages the sessions judge to engage in such acts that undermine justice. In its letter to the Chief Justice, the KHCAA stressed that, regardless of the cases outcome, the individuals named in the letter must be verified. Pointing out that this will have serious repercussions on the reputation of the judiciary and its integrity, the association requested the chief justice to forward the same to the vigilance registrar or any other agency to thoroughly probe the entire episode.
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