Kannur (Kerala) | A court on Saturday dismissed a petition filed by the accused in the Mattannur Shuhaib murder case seeking transfer of the trial to another court.

Thalassery Additional Sessions Court Judge Denny C J dismissed the petition filed by the prime accused, Akash M V, Rajil Raj and Jithin A.

The court dismissed the transfer plea after hearing arguments from the accused and the Special Public Prosecutor.

It also rejected a separate petition seeking a stay on the trial proceedings.

Youth Congress leader S P Shuhaib was allegedly hacked to death at Edayannur near Mattannur on February 12, 2018, by CPI(M) sympathisers.

There are 17 accused in the case. The case attracted significant attention after Shuhaib's family and the Congress approached the Kerala High Court seeking a CBI probe.

The plea was dismissed by both the High Court and the Supreme Court.

Recently, the Additional Sessions Court conducting the trial had cancelled the bail granted to the accused.

However, the bail was later restored after they approached the Kerala High Court.

Subsequently, the accused moved the District Principal Sessions Court seeking transfer of the trial to another court, citing the need for a fair trial.