All 16 accused in the 2018 Abhimanyu murder case appeared before the trial court in Kochi on Thursday, 13 August, clearing a critical procedural hurdle and setting the stage for the long-delayed trial to finally begin on 17 August 2025. The appearance came after the court issued stern warnings of stringent action following two earlier instances of non-compliance.

What Happened in Court

The newly framed charges were read out to all 16 accused in the presence of the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court. Each of the accused denied the charges and pleaded not guilty. The case is next scheduled for consideration on Monday, ahead of the formal trial commencement on 17 August.

The Case Background

Abhimanyu, a 21-year-old activist of the Students' Federation of India (SFI) and a student of Maharaja's College, Ernakulam, was fatally stabbed during a violent clash on the college campus on 1 July 2018. Four other SFI members were injured in the attack. According to the prosecution, the accused — allegedly linked to the now-banned Campus Front of India, an affiliate of the Popular Front of India (PFI) — attacked the students following a dispute over campus posters. The Ernakulam Central Police filed charges including murder, criminal conspiracy, rioting, and unlawful assembly, and submitted the charge sheet in September 2018. The case was subsequently committed to the Principal Sessions Court.

Seven Years of Delays

Despite the charge sheet being filed within months of the incident, the trial remained stalled for more than seven years. The prolonged delay prompted Abhimanyu's mother to approach the Kerala High Court in 2024, seeking expedited completion of proceedings. The High Court intervened after noting that the trial had not even commenced despite the passage of several years. Compounding the delay, crucial case documents reportedly went missing from court custody. Those documents were later recreated, allowing proceedings to eventually move forward.

High Court's Final Deadline

The Kerala High Court had on 24 January directed the Sessions Court to complete proceedings within nine months. Days before the Thursday hearing, the High Court granted the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court a final extension of four months to conclude the trial, making it explicitly clear that no further extension would be entertained. The court's intervention has been widely seen as a direct response to the years of inaction that frustrated the victim's family and drew public scrutiny.

What Comes Next

With all accused now present and charges formally read, the prosecution faces the task of completing one of Kerala's most closely watched campus murder trials within the deadline fixed by the High Court. Legal observers note that the combination of a firm judicial deadline, recreated documents, and a full complement of accused in attendance removes the key procedural obstacles that had blocked the trial for years. How swiftly the Sessions Court can now move through witness examination and arguments will determine whether justice in the Abhimanyu case is finally delivered within the window the High Court has set.