Shahabas Murder Case: Kerala High Court Reserves Verdict In Fresh Bail Pleas Moved By Juveniles

The Kerala High Court on Monday (May 26) reserved its verdict in the fresh bail pleas moved by juvenile accused, who were allegedly involved in the murder of 15-year-old Shahabas, a class 10 student.Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas heard detailed arguments in the matter. The allegation against the juveniles is that the victim succumbed to the attacks by his tuition fellows in Kozhikode. Previously, the Court had denied bail in the earlier applications preferred by the accused students.The counsel for the students argued that there has been a change of circumstances and that admission to schools have already started. Non grant of bail to the accused students would lead to denial of their fundamental right to education under Article 21A of the Constitution.It was also submitted that another CCL (Child in Conflict with Law) in the Observation Home committed suicide, which has had a great impact on the juvenile applicants. Upon hearing the same, the Court orally questioned the safety and purpose of the Home. The Court, thereafter, reserved its verdict. The juveniles have been booked under Sections 103(1) (murder), 126(2) (wrongful restraint), 189 (unlawful assembly), 191(2), 191(3) (rioting), 118(2) (voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt) and 190 of BNS and their bail applications were dismissed by the Juvenile Justice Board.They have been apprehended for allegedly attacking Shahabas with nunchaku over a dispute regarding farewell function held at the tuition centre. It is said that the juveniles created Instagram and WhatsApp groups to discuss and decide how to attack Shahabas. It is claimed that the deceased died due to a fracture on his skull.Case No: Bail Application 6291/2025 and connected casesCounsel for the Petitioners: Advocates K. M. Firoz, Jacob E. SimonCounsel for the Respondents: Advocates Kodoth Sreedharan, K. P. Muhammad Arif, Abdul Jaleel U. K., Chackochen Vithayathil, C. K. Suresh (Sr. PP)

Shahabas Murder Case: Kerala High Court Reserves Verdict In Fresh Bail Pleas Moved By Juveniles

K. Salma Jennath

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