Overview
- A Division Bench condoned a 17-day filing delay, admitted the appeal, and directed all accused to file responses.
- The challenge targets the Ernakulam court’s December 2025 acquittals of Dileep, Charly Thomas, Sanilkumar alias Mesthiri Sanil, and Sarath G. Nair.
- The State also seeks tougher punishment for six men already convicted and sentenced to 20 years’ rigorous imprisonment for gang rape and allied offences.
- Trial court orders included concurrent sentences for related crimes and a directive that ₹5 lakh from fines be paid to the survivor as compensation.
- Justices A. K. Jayasankaran Nambiar and Jobin Sebastian are hearing the matter, while some convicts have separately sought suspension of their sentences.