The Special Additional Sessions Court (Marad cases) at Eranhipalam here trying the murder of Revolutionary Marxist Party (RMP) leader T.P. Chandrasekharan will pronounce its verdict on January 22.
Judge R. Narayana Pisharadi on Friday posted the case to January 22 after concluding the trial proceedings, including the final arguments from the prosecution and defence. He will also write to the Kerala High Court seeking extension of time for delivering the verdict till January 31.
Previously, the High Court had given a period of one month (December 31) to pronounce the verdict in the case following its two-week interim stay of trial in October. However, in November, the judge was deputed to evaluate answer sheets of the Munsiff- Magistrate examination in Kochi for two weeks. Subsequently, the trial resumed only on December 2.
Interestingly, the High Court had directed the trial court to give its verdict on or before November 30. This was after the judge sent a letter to the High Court seeking an extension as it had earlier asked the court to complete the trial by July 31.
The case relates to a section of Communist Party of India (Marxist) leaders in Kozhikode and Kannur allegedly hatching a plot and employing a seven-member gang to kill Chandrasekharan, who had walked out of the party and floated a dissident outfit at Onchiyam. The growing clout of the parallel party in rural areas had reportedly rattled the CPI(M) leadership. He was killed at Vallikad at 10.15 p.m. on May 4, 2012.
Initially, the special police team had charge-sheeted 76 persons. This was after the High Court in January, 2013, stayed the trial proceedings against 15 accused, including K.K. Ragesh, CPI(M) State committee member. Two other accused, T. Rahul and K. Mohammed Sahir, are still at charge. The trial in the case began on February 11. At present, only 36 accused face trial as the court had acquitted 20 in September and discharged two others in December last.
