Mother Of SFI Leader Abhimanyu Who Was Stabbed To Death In 2018 Over Campus Political Rivalry Moves Kerala High Court Citing Delay In Trial
A petition has been filed before the Kerala High Court by the mother of Abhimanyu, the deceased SFI leader who was murdered in 2018 during a campus political rivalry at Maharajas College, Ernakulam.
The mother has approached the Court stating despite the passage of six years, charges have not been framed against 15 accused persons and the case is still in the preliminary hearing stage with no chances of the trial commencing anytime soon.
Justice Kauser Edappagath has sought a report from the Principal Sessions Court, Ernakulam.
As per the prosecution case, Abhimanyu was stabbed to death by a group of students belonging to a religiously motivated group called 'Campus Front'. It is stated that Abhimanyu was attacked due to the political rivalry between SFI activists and Campus Front activists, on a dispute regarding the placement of some posters in the college. Four other students were also attacked along with the deceased and they sustained fatal injuries.
Crime was registered under sections 143, 147, 341, 323, 324, 326, 307, 302, 506(ii), 201, 120(B) r/w 149 of IPC and the charge sheet was initially laid before the Judicial Magistrate of First Class-II, Ernakulam. The case was later committed to the Principal Sessions Court, Ernakulam and is pending now.
Plea stated, “It is pertinent to note that the case which was committed in the year 2018 is still at the preliminary hearing stage and has not acquired any progress. The case was posted repeatedly for the appearance of the accused from 11.07.2023 to 18.11.2023. However, the majority of the accused were absent on all of the occasions.”
It is alleged that even after a delay of six years, there is no progress in the case which is against the principles of the criminal justice system.
It is also alleged in the plea that all the accused persons are politically influential and that they were all enlarged on bail. It is stated that the undue delay in framing charges would benefit the accused persons.
The petitioner thus seeks for a direction from the High Court to the Sessions Court to try and dispose of the matter within a short time period.
The plea has been moved by Advocates Devika K R, K S Arun Kumar
Case Number: OP(Crl.) 920/2024
Case Title: Bhoopathi v State of Kerala