Kerala High Court directs stay on Trial proceeding in Tribal lynching matter

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The Kerala High Court on Friday stayed the trial court proceedings in the Attapadi tribal lynching matter, wherein A. Madhu was lynched in 2018 over the allegations of stealing rice from a shop.

Justice Mary Joseph was hearing a plea filed by Madhu's mother seeking direction to change the advocate appearing in the matter as the witnesses were turning hostile. It was submitted that the examination of witnesses in the trial is not being done by following the basic principles of law. It was submitted that in case this continues the accused in the matter may go scot-free.

The mother further submitted that there are deliberate attempts to weaken the case as some of the accused in the matter are close associates of the ruling party.

Tribal A. Madhu, allegedly suffering from mental problems,  was lynched by a mob in February 2018 over an allegation of theft in Attapadi. Several videos and selfies also went viral on social media after the killing.

The High Court has also sought a response from the State Government on the demand of Madhu's mother regarding a direction to change the advocate.

The order was passed in response to Malli's appeal, which requested that all proceedings in the murder case be suspended until the government decides whether or not to remove special public prosecutor C. Rajendran. 

Malli had further sought direction to the Government to hand over the case to Rajesh M. Menon, an additional special prosecutor.