Kerala actor assault case: High Court rejects N.S. Sunil’s plea to recall two forensic experts for cross-examination

Court terms plea as one that appeared to be a frivolous application aimed at delaying disposal of the case

The Kerala High Court on Monday (December 16, 2024) rejected the plea of N.S. Sunil seeking the recall of two witnesses who had been examined during trial in the case relating to alleged sexual assault in 2017 on an actor in a moving car in Kochi.

Sunil had been arrayed at the prime accused in the case. Rejecting his plea, the court termed it as one that appeared to be a frivolous application that was aimed at delaying the disposal of the case. The court went on to say that the time limit for the disposal of the case whose trial began in 2020 had been extended many times.

Sunil’s plea was to recall two witnesses – both of whom were forensic science experts, during the case trial. Dismissing his contention, the court noted that he had attended the trial through the past two years and his argument that his lawyer could not cross-examine the two witnesses for want of instructions, was bereft of any bona fides.

He had earlier approached a sessions court with the plea that his lawyer could not take proper instructions from him during the course of trial in order to cross-examine the two experts since he was in judicial custody during this period and was released only in September 2024. This plea had been rejected by the sessions court as well.

Published - December 17, 2024 10:41 am IST