The judge who presided over the 2017 kidnap and sexual assault case of a prominent actor is among five judicial officials recommended for elevation to the post of High Court judge by the Kerala High Court bench.
Honey M. Varghese, who is currently the Chief Magistrate of Alappuzha District and Sessions Judge, was previously a Judge of the Ernakulam Principal and Sessions Court.
On December 8 last year, Judge Varghese acquitted actor Dileep of conspiracy charges in the case while convicting six other accused. This ruling brought to a close a trial that had ebbed and flowed over seven years and precipitated historic changes in the film industry. The Kerala government later moved the Supreme Court challenging Dileep’s acquittal.
Apart from Varghese, the apex court bench recommended Sasi Kumar PS, Principal District and Sessions Judge, Thrissur, KK Balakrishnan, Principal District and Sessions Judge, Ernakulam, N Harikumar, Principal District and Sessions Judge, Pathanamthitta and Nazira S, Principal District and Sessions Judge, Thiruvananthapuram.
The names were finalized on the basis of the seniority of the judicial officers. The recommendations will be sent to the Supreme Court Council for final consideration.
