'Hand-chopping' case: Verdict on April 23
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Kochi: The verdict in the sensational 'hand-chopping' case involving college professor T J Joseph will be pronounced on April 23.
National Investigation Agency judge P Sasisdharan completed the hearing in the case on Thursday and posted the pronouncement of the verdict to April 23.
The court has examined over 300 prosecution witnesses, four defence witnesses, over 950 prosecution documents, nearly 30 defence documents and 227 material objects in the case during its trial which started in July 2013.
A total of 37 people, including six persons who are absconding, have been named in the charge sheet in the case.
Currently, 31 people are undergoing trial.
According to the charge sheet, the accused persons hatched a conspiracy to attack Thodupuzha Newman College Professor Joseph.
He was attacked and his right hand chopped off, allegedly by activists of a fundamentalist outfit on July 5, 2010, accusing him of hurting religious sentiments of a community through a question paper he set for his students.
A magistrate court in Idukki has exonerated Joseph of the charge of hurting religious sentiments.
