Thrissur: Advocate B.A. Aloor, one of Kerala’s most controversial and high-profile criminal lawyers, passed away on Wednesday at Lisie Hospital in Ernakulam. He was 54 and had been undergoing treatment for kidney-related ailments.

Aloor, also known as Biju Antony Aloor, gained national attention for defending the accused in some of the most sensational murder trials in the state. He was the defence counsel for Govindachami in the Soumya rape and murder case, and also represented Ameerul Islam in the Jisha murder case. He appeared in several other headline-grabbing cases, including the Koodathayi serial murder trial and the Elanthoor human sacrifice case.

Aloor had been in and out of treatment for kidney-related issues. On Tuesday, he had travelled to his hometown of Pathiyaram to attend the Feast of Feeding at a local parish church. During the celebration, he reportedly experienced respiratory issues and physical discomfort. He was rushed to Lisie Hospital in Ernakulam later in the night and passed away at around 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday.

Aloor completed his legal studies in Pune and enrolled as an advocate in 1999. Over the years, he built a name for himself by taking up high-stakes criminal cases, often defending people accused in brutal and controversial crimes. His courtroom appearances were frequently followed by public debate and media scrutiny. He also made news in the past after being granted anticipatory bail in a POCSO case.