The special court judge Honey M Varghese has approached the Supreme Court seeking six more months in order to complete the trial of the actress abduction case. While approaching the apex court, the special judge said that it was not possible to complete the trial within the timeframe set by the Supreme Court; covid and subsequent lockdown are the prime reasons shown by the special court judge.
It is learnt that a three-judge bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar will hear the case on Tuesday. As was directed by Justice AM Khanwilkar and Justice Dinesh Maheshwari on November 30th 2019, the trial was to be completed within six months. Accordingly, the trial was to be completed by May 29th, 2020. However, it got delayed as some petitions related to the case reached the High Court.
Thus, pointing out the newly filed petitions and the nationwide lockdown, Additional Sessions Judge Honey M Varghese wrote to the High Court on April 30, and informing that the trial could not be completed by May 29. Now, the Registrar (Judicial) of the High Court forwarded the letter to the Supreme Court. The letter also stated of requiring six more months for the completion of the trial proceedings. If approved by the Supreme Court, the final hearings of the case would take place in November.