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Sentence of 32 Suryanelli accused suspended, bail granted

The Kerala high court on Friday suspended the sentence of 32 accused, who were sentenced to various terms of rigorous imprisonment in the sensational Suryanelli rape case and granted them bail.

The interim order was passed by Justice R Rajendra Babu on petitions filed by 32 of the 35 accused seeking suspension of their sentence and releasing them on bail till the disposal of their appeal. Three of the accused did not seek bail.

The court granted conditional bail to 31 accused on their executing a bond of Rs 25,000 each with two solvent sureties, each of the like amount to the satisfaction of the additional sessions judge, Kottayam, and also on the petitioners depositing 50 per cent of the fine amount or Rs 10,000, whichever was less.

The accused have also been directed not to leave the country without the permission of the court. They have been asked to appear as and when required and not involve themselves in any crime or cause annoyance to the victim and her family.

The accused have to report before the circle inspector of police within whose jurisdiction they are residing on the last Saturday of every alternate month.

A woman accused, Ammini, had also been granted bail on furnishing a bond of Rs 10,000 with two solvent sureties each for the like amount.

On September six, special judge M Sashidharan Nambiar had sentenced 35 persons, including three women, to various terms of imprisonment for the abduction and rape of a minor girl in 1996.

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