Kerala actress assault case: Victim's lawyer seeks contempt action against sessions judge over derogatory remarks

The lawyer representing the survivor in the 2017 actress assault case has submitted a complaint to Kerala High Court Chief Justice Soumen Sen, seeking contempt of court action against Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court judge Honey M Varghese for making personal remarks against her and the victim in open court..Advocate TB Mini had assisted the public prosecutor in the case and also represented the survivor in connected matters before the High Court, including cases concerning the illegal access of the memory card containing visuals of the assault.In her complaint, Mini stated that the remarks made by the sessions judge who delivered the judgment in the case caused serious damage to her professional standing and credibility..The trial before Judge Varghese ended with the conviction of prime accused Pulsar Suni and five others for the offence of gang-rape, outraging the modesty of a woman, criminal conspiracy and kidnapping. Actor Dileep was acquitted of all charges..The controversy arose during the hearing of defamation suits related to the assault case on January 12, 2026. According to Mini, the sessions judge remarked in open court that the counsel had attended the trial very rarely and treated the courtroom as a place of rest by sleeping during proceedings.Mini further added in her complaint that such public observations made by a judge questioning an advocate's conduct, without any factual basis, amount to defamation.She stated that there should always be mutual respect between the Bar and the Bench and when a lawyer is defamed by a judge in open court, the judiciary must intervene."A lawyer and a judge are two wheels of the chariot of justice. If a lawyer is defamed in open court with false, defamatory and contemptuous allegations the learned Judge is liable to be proceeded against with by this Hon'ble Court. Hence I most humbly pray for suitable legal actions may be initiated against Smt Honey M Varghese and justice may be rendered to me. The above conduct and false comments made on by session judge are really acts the part of learned by session judge are really acts unbecoming of a judicial officer," the counsel stated in her complaint.Mini stated that such statements made in the presence of lawyers and members of the public, which later got amplified through media reports, severely undermined the dignity of the legal profession.The complaint also pointed out that two special public prosecutors had earlier resigned due to the strained nature of proceedings during the trial of the actress assault case, where they had accused the court of being biased against the prosecution..Mini further alleged in her complaint that the judge had made derogatory remarks about the survivor and prosecution witnesses on several occasions.Another serious allegation raised was that despite being properly represented through her junior counsel, the sessions judge falsely recorded in the order sheet that the counsel was absent, creating a misleading impression.Mini has, therefore, prayed for appropriate action to be initiated against Judge Varghese..Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.