SP Shuhaib
Kochi: The high court has reserved its verdict in a petition filed by the accused persons in the 2018 Shuhaib murder case, seeking transfer of the trial from the additional sessions court–III, Thalassery, to any other competent court. S P Shuhaib, a Youth Congress worker, was hacked to death on Feb 12, 2018, allegedly by a group of CPM workers while having tea with his friends at a shop at Therur near Edayannur in Kannur district. The accused persons, including Akash M V alias Akash Thillankeri, have approached the high court aggrieved by the manner in which the trial court conducted the chief examination of witnesses, contending that it was not in compliance with Section 280 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), which requires the judge to record material remarks regarding the demeanour of witnesses while they are testifying.
The sessions court subsequently cancelled the bail granted to the petitioners and remanded them to judicial custody, observing that their conduct was deliberate, obstructive and intended to protract and derail the trial. However, the HC later stayed the order cancelling their bail and directed the trial court to issue orders for their release. The trial proceedings were also stayed until disposal of the petition.
The petition further stated that, despite the petitioners seeking an adjournment of the trial on the ground that a transfer petition was pending before the HC, the trial court proceeded with the proceedings. A bench of Justice C S Dias on Thursday, after all parties in the petition had concluded their arguments, reserved its judgment.