Class 10 boy Shahbaz murder case: Thamarassery Police files chargesheet, names 6 students as accused

Thamarassery: Police have filed chargesheet in the case of the death of Class 10 student Mohammed Shahbaz (15), who was killed in a student clash. The chargesheet was submitted before the Juvenile Justice Board in Kozhikode.

The police filed the chargesheet ahead of the court’s verdict on the bail plea of the accused, which is expected on Monday. Since failure to submit the chargesheet within 90 days would entitle the accused to default bail, the police had been working to complete the chargesheet before the deadline of May 29.

Only six students have been named as accused in the chargesheet. It also mentions that the investigation into the alleged conspiracy is still ongoing. Shahbaz had sustained serious injuries during the confrontation on February 27 and succumbed to his injuries in the early hours of March 1 while undergoing treatment at the Kozhikode Government Medical College Hospital.

The bail petitions of the six accused — all SSLC students who were attending a private tuition centre on Vezhupur Road — had earlier been deferred by the High Court to Monday for final arguments. Although the key arguments from both the petitioners and respondents were completed, Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas postponed the decision to clarify certain legal points.

The High Court had previously denied them bail, taking into account the prosecution’s argument that releasing the accused on bail could create a law-and-order issue and potentially endanger their lives. The charges are also considered serious.

The case alleges that a group of students, following tensions during a farewell event at the tuition centre and subsequent provocative posts on social media, deliberately assaulted Shahbaz, leading to his death.