The Kerala High Court dismissed a petition by five accused seeking to stay the 2018 Abhimanyu murder trial, clearing the way for the case to proceed without delay. The bench ruled that pending investigations cannot justify a suspension of the ongoing trial.
मुख्य बिंदु (Key Takeaways)
- Kerala High Court rejects request to stay the Abhimanyu murder trial.
- Pending investigation of other accused does not legally justify a trial suspension.
- Sessions Court directed to conclude the trial within nine months.
The Kerala High Court, sitting on Tuesday, threw out a petition filed by five individuals accused in the 2018 murder of SFI leader Abhimanyu. The petitioners wanted the trial to remain in abeyance until the police finished probing other alleged conspirators and filed charge sheets against them. Justice G. Girish, delivering the judgment, observed that there is no legal foundation for staying the trial merely because an ancillary investigation remains incomplete.
Background of the Case
On July 2, 2018, Abhimanyu, then a degree‑seeking student and a prominent SFI activist, was stabbed to death near the Maharaja’s College campus in Kochi. The attack, which also injured several other SFI members, was allegedly orchestrated by members of the Campus Front, who sought to force the organization’s entry onto the campus through violence.
Legal Proceedings So Far
Earlier, the Ernakulam Sessions Court had rejected a similar plea to defer the trial, prompting the accused to approach the High Court. The High Court emphasized that the pending investigation against a separate set of accused—those accused of harbouring the primary perpetrators—does not prejudice the ongoing trial against the five petitioners, whose charges relate directly to the conspiracy, murder, and assault.
Emphasis on a Speedy Trial
Abhimanyu’s mother had previously moved the High Court, securing an order that the Sessions Court complete the trial within nine months. The High Court reiterated that directive, effectively obligating the lower court to adhere to the timeline and proceed without further delay.
Implications and Future Outlook
The decision underscores the judiciary’s commitment to preventing procedural delays in high‑profile cases, even when ancillary investigations are ongoing. It also sends a clear message to political and student groups that attempts to stall justice through legal maneuvers will not be tolerated. The Sessions Court now faces the task of presenting the prosecution’s evidence and delivering a verdict, a development that could shape the discourse on campus politics and violence in Kerala.