On May 15, a special court in Kochi, Kerala, India, will complete the charge-framing process against Savad and Shafeer C, the primary accused in the 2010 hand-chopping case involving professor T J Joseph. In July 2010, Joseph's right hand was severed by a group of assailants who accused him of religious blasphemy related to a question paper he prepared. The case, which was later taken over by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), has already seen the conviction of 19 individuals. The first accused, Savad, was apprehended in January 2024 while allegedly hiding in Kannur district under the name Shajahan. The second accused, Shafeer, is charged with providing logistical support to Savad. On April 30, the court determined there were sufficient grounds to frame charges against both individuals under various laws, including the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Following the charge framing, the court will schedule the trial.