MANJERI: The trial in the controversial Radha murder case began at Majeri Sessions Fast Track Court on Monday. Official formalities of the trial will begin only on Tuesday as the second accused in the case, Shamsudheen, has asked the permission of the court to change his advocate.
The first accused in the case, K M Biju alias Biju Nair, was not present in the court citing health reasons. Three witnesses in the case, including Aryadan Shoukath, son of Minister Aryadan Mohammed, may be examined on Tuesday.
Radha, a sweeper in the Nilambur Congress party office, was murdered in the office on February 5. As per the police report, Biju was in charge of the office at the time of the murder and he, along with the second accused, dumped the body of Radha in a pond near Pookkottupadam after murdering her. The police recovered the body of Radha on February 9 and soon arrested the two accused. The police had registered rape case against Biju, who is the prime accused.
Other cases under IPC sections 120 (B) (conspiracy), 302(murder) and 201 (Causing disappearance of evidence) were also registered against the accused.
Shamsudheen informed the court on Monday that he lost trust on his advocate and demanded to allow two weeks to change him. But, the court denied his request and allotted him a day to change the advocate.
The murder case was first investigated by a team headed by Thrissur range IG S Gopinath. Following allegations, the government reconstituted the investigation team under ADGP B Sandhya and her team completed the investigation.
According to the 2050 page charge-sheet filed by the investigation team, in the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court in Nilambur in first week of May, there are a total of 172 witnesses in the case, including Arydan Shoukath, who is the 125th witness. The High Court has directed the sessions court to dispose the case in four months time.