A Kasaragod Additional Sessions Court in Kerala acquitted 21 BJP-RSS workers who were accused of the murder of an SDPI activist, Zainul Abid, in 2014.
Additional District and Sessions Court Judge Achindya Raj Unni pronounced the verdict after observing that the prosecution failed to prove the charges against the accused.
The acquitted included BJP local leaders Mahesh K, Udayan, Prasanth, Prathap and Hareesh B. The eight accused died during the trial. Mahesh K is also in judicial custody under the CAPA Act in connection with various other cases.
The 21 were accused of stabbing the 26-year-old SDPI activist to death in front of his father near a bus stand in Kasaragod on December 222014 Abid was helping his father close their mattress shop when the group of assailants stormed the premises and attacked him. The assailants fled immediately after.
He succumbed to his injuries the next day. 21 BJP-RSS workers were arrested following a complaint.
Abid’s father, who was the primary witness, died before the trial began in a road accident in 2024. The court cannot legally consider the statement of witnesses who are deceased. The identification parade of the accused also could not be accepted as evidence in the court. There was a lack of scientific evidence, which set back the prosecution in the case, local media reported.
Prosecutor Santosh told reporters that the father's statement was recorded during the investigation phase, but his death during the final trial was a major reason for the acquittal.
The investigation was conducted by a team consisting of DySP TP Ranjith, CI PK Sudhakaran, and SI M Rajesh under the supervision of the then Kasaragod District Police Chief Thompson Jose.
The family of the victim said that there were major lapses in the investigation.
The court found that the 21 prosecuted were not guilty. It also said that evidence was fabricated against the accused.
Abid’s family expressed their disappointment with the verdict and said that they would appeal the verdict.
