Shahabas murder case: Six accused students granted bail, to be released from Observation Home

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court has granted bail to the six students accused in the case of the murder of Shahabas, a Class 10 student in Thamarassery, Kozhikode. Granting bail to the accused students, the High Court stated that the parents of the accused must submit affidavits assuring cooperation with the investigation. Currently, the students are housed at the Observation Home in Vellimadukunnu, Kozhikode.

The court stipulated that the students must cooperate with the investigation, furnish a bond of Rs 50,000, refrain from influencing witnesses or engaging in similar offences, and not leave the country. The accused will be soon released from the Observation Home. The High Court will consider the case again on June 16.

The incident took place during a farewell function at a private tuition centre in Thamarassery, where an altercation occurred. Shahabas, a 15-year-old from Chungam, sustained serious injuries during the fight and later died on March 1 while undergoing treatment at Kozhikode Government Medical College Hospital. The investigation team, led by Thamarassery Inspector Sayooj Kumar, filed a chargesheet before the Juvenile Justice Board naming six students as accused. The chargesheet includes statements from 107 witnesses, CCTV footage showing the assault on Shahabas, and digital evidence such as chat messages from the accused students’ Instagram group.

Recently, five of the accused students were granted admission to Plus One courses. Three were admitted to Thamarassery Government Vocational Higher Secondary School, one to St. Joseph's HSS, and another to Government VHSS Kuttichira.