Stories
Kochi Judge Angry As 16 Murder Accused Arrive In Identical Outfits And Masks
- •All 16 accused in the 2018 Abhimanyu murder case arrived in a Kochi court wearing identical white shirts, lungis, caps, masks, and similar hairstyles.
- •Principal District and Sessions Judge K.K. Balakrishnan expressed anger at the disguised appearance and ordered all accused to remove their masks immediately.
- •The judge warned of strict action if anyone attempts to conceal their identity during future hearings or witness cross-examinations.
- •The high-profile trial began nearly eight years after SFI leader Abhimanyu was stabbed to death at Maharaja's College in Kerala.
- •During the first day of the hearing, an eyewitness managed to identify several accused individuals despite their identical appearances, though three could not be recognized.
Key Questions Answered
Principal District and Sessions Judge K.K. Balakrishnan grew angry and directed all 16 accused to remove their masks. The judge warned that strict action would be taken if anyone attempted to change their appearance or conceal their identity during further hearings or cross-examination.
Abhimanyu, a second-year BSc Chemistry student at Maharaja's College and an SFI leader, was stabbed to death on July 2, 2018. The clash erupted on the college campus due to a dispute over writing on walls and putting up posters for the academic session prep.
No, the Ernakulam Principal District and Sessions Court rejected the accused's demand for an in-camera trial on September 22, ruling that their apprehensions were insufficient grounds to prevent an open court trial.
