Shuhaib murder case: Kerala HC stays trial proceedings against accused

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The Kerala High Court, on Wednesday, stayed till June 15 the proceedings of the Additional Sessions Court, Thalassery, in the murder trial of S.P. Shuhaib, a Youth Congress leader from Edayannur. The stay was granted on a petition moved by the accused after the trial court rejected their request.

The accused, including Akash Thillenkery, a former DYFI activist, submitted their apprehension that they may not receive justice from the trial court. The petition sought to transfer the trial proceedings from the Sessions court to any other court of competent jurisdiction. The Thalassery court, while dismissing their transfer request, had stated that the conduct of the accused in raising ‘untenable objections’ reflected an attempt to interfere with the orderly conduct of the proceedings.

Previously, the accused had requested the trial court to record the demeanour of the witness to establish that it was tutored. The court rejected the request and issued orders to cancel their bail. The High Court had set aside the trial court’s order cancelling the bail, stating that it was apparently illegal.

Shuhaib was murdered in February 2018, allegedly by CPI(M) workers, in Mattannur. The High Court issued a notice to the State government on the petition of the accused.