Palakkad: Special public prosecutor in the Attapadi Madhu murder case, VT Reghunath, has resigned from his post on medical grounds at a time when the trial in the case is set to to start from January 25.

Reghunath has resigned, saying that he is going to undergo an eye operation and he will not be able to shoulder the responsibility any longer.

Poor tribal youth from Attapadi, Madhu, was killed in a mob attack in 2018. The incident had shocked the continence of the public in Kerala owing to the cruelty heaped on a hapless, famished youth who was suspected of stealing food.

The resignation of the special public prosecutor has come as a setback for conducting a speedy trial in the case.

The case has been pending before the SC/ST Special Court in Mannarkkad for the last four years. The reading of the chargesheet, running into almost 3,500 pages, will not take place immediately due to his resignation.

All the 16 accused in the case are currently out on bail.

Madhu, son of Malli and Mallan, was branded a thief and brutally lynched by a mob on February 22, 2018. He belonged to the Chindakki Ooru in Attapadi in Kerala's Palakkad district.