Kerala High Court sets 4-month deadline for Abhimanyu murder trial

The Story in Brief

The Kerala High Court has directed the Ernakulam District and Sessions Court to complete the trial in the Abhimanyu murder case within four months. The case dates back to July 2018, when Abhimanyu, a second-year B.Sc. Chemistry student and SFI unit secretary at Maharaja's College, was allegedly fatally stabbed during clashes between SFI activists and the Campus Front, the student wing of the now-banned Popular Front of India (PFI).

Justice Kauser Edappagath was considering a plea by Abhimanyu's mother, Bhoopathi. The High Court had earlier on January 24, 2025 given the trial court nine months to dispose of the case, later extended by three months on October 31, 2025. The case involves 16 accused, seven eyewitnesses, and 50 witnesses. All accused pleaded not guilty on July 6. Charges include murder, causing hurt with dangerous weapons, and destruction of evidence. The chargesheet was filed in September 2018, but delays arose from accused filing statements, production of absconding individuals, and reconstruction of missing court records such as the chargesheet and post-mortem report.