The Kerala High Court on Monday suspended the sentence and fine awarded by the Ernakulam Additional Sessions Judge to the three convicts in the sensational Paravur sex scandal case. Justice C T Ravikumar accepted the appeals filed by S Vijayakumar, Unnikrishnan and Noby Sugunan and granted the bail.
The Special Court, constituted to deal with the Paravur case, had awarded seven-year rigorous imprisonment (RI) to Vijayan and ten-year RIs to Unnikrishnan and Noby. The court also directed the accused to execute a bond of `50,000 and present two solvent sureties.
The court awarded RI for five years and a fine of `25,000 to Vijayakumar for offence committed under Section 366 (A) and RI for seven years and a fine of `25,000 for offence committed under Section 372.
The court awarded RI for 10 years and a fine of `50,000 to Unnikrishnan and Noby for offence committed under Section 376 (2) and RI for five years and a fine of `25,000 for offence committed under Section 366 A. The sessions judge held that the sentences shall run concurrently.
Counsel for the accused Babu S Nair submitted that it would be a negation of justice if the accused are directed to remain in jail until the final disposal of the case. The court accepted the argument and passed the order.