Abimanyu murder case: trial court dismisses accused’s plea for in-camera proceedings

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The Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court on Tuesday (September 22, 2026) dismissed the petition moved by the accused in the Abhimanyu murder case seeking in-camera trial proceedings, which are scheduled to commence on October 15.

Principal Sessions Judge K.K. Balakrishnan, who reserved the order on the plea on September 15, dismissed it on the ground that it was not a fit case for in-camera trial.

The petition, moved by the accused last week, was strongly opposed by the prosecution. It was argued that in-camera proceedings are typically reserved for sexual assault victims and cases registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, and that murder accused cannot claim such a privilege.

In their plea, the accused also sought restrictions on the entry of media personnel and the public, as well as on taking their photographs. They contended that a public trial would affect their future lives and potentially influence witness testimony. The petition further requested curbs on gatherings of college students near the court premises, given its proximity to Maharaja’s College, where the victim had studied. However, the prosecution, represented by G. Mohanraj, maintained that these grounds were not legally sustainable.

On August 21, the court fixed the trial schedule in compliance with the Kerala High Court’s July directive to complete proceedings within four months, following a petition by Abhimanyu’s mother, Bhoopathy. On the opening day, the first two witnesses will be examined. The testimony of all 156 witnesses will continue without interruption, except on holidays, and is slated to conclude within 18 days by November 12.

On August 13, 2026, all 16 accused appeared before the court after failing to attend the previous two hearings, drawing the court’s displeasure. At that hearing, the court read out an additional charge of voluntarily causing hurt (Section 323 of the IPC), invoked at the instance of the prosecution.

All 16 accused had earlier pleaded not guilty when charges were initially read out on July 6, 2026. They face charges of murder, causing hurt with dangerous weapons, criminal intimidation, destruction of evidence, rioting, and unlawful assembly. The court had previously dismissed discharge petitions filed by six of the accused, ruling that sufficient grounds existed to proceed. The plea of the first accused seeking the return of the chargesheet was also rejected.

Abhimanyu, a second-year B.Sc. Chemistry student and SFI unit secretary at Maharaja’s College, was allegedly fatally stabbed on July 2, 2018, during clashes between activists of the SFI and the Campus Front, the student wing of the now-banned Popular Front of India (PFI), reportedly following disputes over graffiti.

His murder triggered widespread protests and reignited debate over political violence on college campuses. Although the police filed the chargesheet in September 2018, the trial was delayed due to multiple factors.

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