KOCHI: The trial in the murder case of SFI leader Abhimanyu (19) of Maharaja's College in Ernakulam, will begin today. Advocate Mohanraj is the special prosecutor. The Kerala High Court will consider today the plea filed by Abhimanyu's mother Bhupathi citing delay in the trial.

It has been six years since the charge sheet was filed in the case. Although the preliminary trial began in 2019, the accused could not be brought together in court during the Covid period. Not only that the charge sheet and other documents went missing from the trial court in 2019. This was noticed in September 2023. These had to be reconstructed as per the high court's directions. All these led to the delay in the trial. Although there were reports that the initial hearing in the case would begin last October, that did not happen.

All 25 students, who were witnesses in the case, had left Maharaja's College after their studies. Some went abroad for higher studies and work. They should be summoned after issuing summons. This could cause further delay in the case.

Abhimanyu, a second-year B.Sc Chemistry student and belonging to Vattavada in Idukki, was murdered in the middle of the night on July 2, 2018. He was stabbed to death following a clash between SFI-Campus Front activists regarding a graffiti painted on the wall of the Maharaja's College.