In the Vithura rape case, the first accused, Suresh of Jubaidha Manzil in Kollam, has been sentenced to 37 years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of ₹14,000. The verdict was delivered by Additional Sessions Court Judge S. Subhash, who found him guilty of illegally detaining a minor girl, facilitating her sexual exploitation for money, and running an immoral trafficking centre.
Suresh is already lodged in a Central Jail, serving a life sentence for aiding and abetting the rape of the same victim in a related case. He is also facing trial in 22 other cases of a similar nature.
However, as the 24-year sentence from the earlier case and the newly imposed 37-year term will run concurrently, the effective period of imprisonment will be limited to 10 years.