N.S. Sunil, the first accused in the 2017 actor rape case, was released on bail on Friday, after spending seven and a half years in prison.
The Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court granted him bail after the Supreme Court ordered his release as he had been in prison for more than seven years and the proceedings in the trial court may take time to complete.
Bail conditions
The trial court imposed strict bail conditions on him as instructed by the top court and asked him not to directly, indirectly or through any agent, try to influence, intimidate, threaten or coerce the victim and any of the prosecution witnesses or the accused through words expressed or disseminated through any media, including print, electronic or visual.
The accused shall not leave the jurisdiction of the sessions court without its permission and shall furnish the details of his place of residence before the court within a week. He shall not shift his place of residence without the prior permission of the court. Sunil was asked to furnish his phone number to the court within one week if he intended to use a mobile phone. He was asked not to use more than one SIM. The SIM and mobile phone details should be furnished to the court within a week, ordered the court.
No interviews
The court asked him not to give any interview or make any comments about the case or any related matters through print, electronic, visual or social media. He shall attend the trial regularly unless the court exempts his appearance for valid reasons, the bail order said.
The court, which asked him to execute a bail bond for ₹1 lakh with two solvent sureties each for the like amount, asked the District Probation Officer to file monthly reports regarding his conduct during bail. The Superintendent of Police (Ernakulam Rural) was directed to ensure the safety of the accused while on bail after the Special Public Prosecutor informed the court that there were threats to the life of Sunil. The prosecutor, while replying to a question from the judge, informed the court that the issue of the alleged threat to the safety of the accused was not brought to the notice of the Supreme Court.
Published - September 20, 2024 12:42 pm IST
