Palm chopping case verdict postponed

KOCHI: The NIA Court in Ernakulam has postponed the pronouncing of the verdict in the sensational palm chopping case to April 30. Though the court had earlier posted order in the case for Thursday, it was postponed to April 30 owing to various paper works that need to be completed.
On March 25, the court had posted the verdict in the case on April 6 which was postponed to April 22.On Wednesday, the special court put off the verdict for a second time to April 30.
The case dates back to 2010 when a group of people chopped off the palm of professor T J Joseph, former head of Malayalam department at Newman College, Thodupuzha, after a question paper prepared by him for an internal examination allegedly hurt religious sentiments.
Though NIA investigation had come up with 54 accused in the case, chargesheet was filed against 37 persons of which five are still absconding. So far, 31 accused have faced trial in the case.
The court examined 306 prosecution witnesses and four defence witnesses in the case.
Those absconding are the first accused Savad, fourth accused Sajil, 28th accused M K Naser, 30 the accused Shafeeq and 33rd accused Azees Odakkali.