The Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court will announce the schedule of the trial in the Abhimanyu murder case on Friday, August 21, 2026.

The court, while considering the matter on Wednesday, rejected the defence counsel’s plea to provide time up to Monday, August 24, 2026, to verify the documents related to the case. The prosecution opposed it alleging that the defence is trying to protract the trial by seeking more time to verify the documents. The court directed the prosecution to submit the documents before the Chief Ministerial Officer of the court for verification. The case was adjourned to Friday for pronouncement of the schedule of the trial.

The Kerala High Court had earlier directed that the trial be completed within four months, on a petition from the victim’s mother, Bhoopathy. All the 16 accused had appeared before the court on August 12 after failing to be present during the last two hearings.

The accused had pleaded not guilty when charges were initially read out on July 6, 2026. They face charges of murder, causing hurt with dangerous weapons, criminal intimidation, destruction of evidence, rioting and unlawful assembly. Although the police had filed the chargesheet in September 2018, the trial was delayed due to a host of factors.