Neha murder: One year later, no sign of special court

Hubballi: On April 18, 2024, Hubballi was shaken by the murder of the 23-year-old Neha Hiremath on the campus of BVB College.

When the suspect was identified as her friend Fayaz Khondunaik, the atmosphere became charged; and with Lok Sabha polls around the corner, the case quickly acquired a political colour and politicians descended on the grief-stricken family home in droves amid huge protests.

Pilloried by the BJP, the state government tried to placate the family with a promise: it assured to set up a special court or fast-track court and give justice in 120 days.

A year later, the special court is nowhere in sight; also absent are once-indignant politicians who clamoured for justice.

The victim’s father, Niranjanayya Hiremath, a Congress corporator at Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC), said he has lost faith in the state government.

Probing the case, the CID submitted a 483-page chargesheet in July 2024.

A year after the murder, the case is at the First Additional District Session Court in Hubballi. The court is yet to begin the trial.

Niranjanayya Hiremath recalled that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Home Minister G Parameshwara visited the family and assured them of setting up a special court and giving justice in 120 days.

“Today is the first death anniversary of my daughter but there is no progress in the case. If the government sets up a special court, justice can be given at the earliest. Otherwise, crimes against women will continue in society,” he said.

Speaking to DH, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K said there had been a “a delay since the High Court denied permission in that matter”. “We will again approach them soon in a week or so,” he added.

Hubballi-Dharwad Central MLA Mahesh Tenginkai said if justice was given through the fast-track court within 120 days, another murder of a five-year-old girl in Hubballi could have been prevented. The government should set up special courts in cases of crimes against women, only then it is possible to check such crimes, the MLA said.

As Neha’s family awaits justice, murder accused Fayaz, a native of Savadatti taluk, is languishing in Dharwad Central Prison for the last one year.

Advocates Z M Hattaraki and Arzoo M Mulla filed a criminal petition before the Karnataka High Court Dharwad Bench, demanding the transfer of the case to Belagavi district citing threat to Fayaz. They also said that no advocate in Hubballi was coming forward to take up his case.

The Taluk Legal Service Authority has now come forward to argue in favour of Fayaz.

Recently, the state government appointed a special public prosecutor (SPP), Mahesh Vaidya, to handle the case.