Charges framed against Savad, the first accused in the infamous hand-chopping case

The long arm of the law has caught up with Savad, the first accused in the infamous hand-chopping case, who went into hiding for sixteen years after the incident.

Charges were framed against him at the special court for trying the offences booked by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Kochi last week.

The prosecution’s case is that Savad, in continuation of the conspiracy hatched with the other accused in the case, attacked T.J. Joseph, a professor at Newman’s College, Thodupuzha, and chopped off his right palm on July 4, 2010, after reportedly being perturbed by the inclusion of some alleged blasphemous references in the Malayalam question paper set by Mr. Joseph for an internal examination of the B.Com. degree held on March 23, 2010.

Savad, who was reportedly an active member of the Popular Front of India (PFI), inflicted several strikes on Prof. Joseph with an axe. According to the NIA, the severed palm was thrown into a nearby compound.

The charges framed against him include the commission of a terrorist act, being a member of a terrorist gang and conspiring to commit a terrorist act as defined under the Unauthorised Activities (Prevention) Act. He has also been charged with criminal conspiracy, rioting with armed and deadly weapons, wrongfully entrainment, committing mischief, causing hurt and grievous hurt with a dangerous weapon. Additionally, the charges of threatening, destruction of evidence, promoting enmity between religious groups, attempt to commit murder and possession and use of explosives were also slapped against him.

Savad, who went into hiding for 14 years after the attack was arrested on January 10, 2024 from Beram, Mattannur, Kannur, where he was reportedly residing under the pseudo name Shajahan.The accused, according to the NIA, evaded arrest by taking shelter in various locations in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

The investigation agency had issued non-bailable warrants and Look Out Circulars (LOCs) against him and announced a reward of ₹10 lakh for helping in his arrest.

The NIA, which took over the investigation in April 2011, had arraigned 55 persons as accused in the case. The court had convicted 19 persons and let off 24 others in the case. A few of the accused are still at large.

C. Shafeer of Kannur, who was arrested for harbouring Savad, too was charged under the UAPA.