On 18 April 2024, MCA student Neha Hiremath was stabbed to death on the BVB College campus in Hubballi, Karnataka, by a former classmate, Fayaz Khondunaik, who was arrested within hours. Protests by the ABVP, the BJP and Hindu groups, and a half-day bandh by Muslim organisations in Dharwad, followed in the middle of the Lok Sabha campaign. The case went to the CID, which filed a 483-page chargesheet in July 2024. The trial began in Hubballi in September 2025, and no verdict had been reported by October 2026.
Key takeaways
- MCA student Neha Hiremath, daughter of Congress corporator Niranjan Hiremath, was stabbed on the BVB College campus in Hubballi on 18 April 2024; Fayaz Khondunaik was arrested within hours.
- The ABVP, BJP and Hindu groups protested across north Karnataka; on 22 April Muslim businesses in Dharwad shut for half a day in solidarity with the family.
- Her father and BJP leaders alleged "love jihad"; ministers called it personal, and the CID chargesheet, as reported, gives refusal to marry as the motive.
- The promised special court had not been set up a year later. The trial began in September 2025, and no verdict had been reported by October 2026.
The killing on 18 April 2024
Neha Hiremath was a first-year Master of Computer Applications student. Her father, Niranjan Hiremath (also reported as Niranjanayya), is a Congress councillor in the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation PTI via Tribune. She was stabbed on the campus of B V Bhoomaraddi (BVB) College on Thursday 18 April Deccan Herald. Most reports give her age as 23; some say 24 or 21.
She was leaving after an exam when Fayaz intercepted her and stabbed her several times in front of other students; CCTV captured the attack. She died on the way to KIMS Hospital The News Minute The News Minute.
The accused, from Munavalli in Savadatti taluk, Belagavi district, had studied BCA with her. His surname appears as Khondunaik, Khondunayak or Kondikoppa in different reports. Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissioner Renuka Sukumar said he was caught within an hour of fleeing The News Minute. A magistrate remanded him to 14 days' judicial custody on 19 April Scroll.
The protests
Students led by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) protested at the university on 18 April. That night members of Hindutva organisations gathered outside Vidyanagar police station, demanding that police hand the accused over to them, and urged lawyers not to represent him The News Minute.
Students protested at the BVB College gate on 19 April, and protests spread across north Karnataka. Munavalli, the accused's hometown, saw a total shutdown for a second day on 20 April Deccan Herald. Scroll reported that members of the Muslim community also organised protests demanding Fayaz be punished Scroll.
On 22 April the BJP held statewide protests, accusing the Congress government's alleged "appeasement politics". Leaders including B Y Vijayendra, R Ashoka, Basavaraj Bommai and Jagadish Shettar led them in different cities, and MLAs Arvind Bellad and Mahesh Tenginkai in Hubballi-Dharwad. PTI reported marches, sit-ins and tyres burnt on roads PTI via Business Standard.
On 20 April police arrested two young men in Dharwad over social media posts that, according to complainants from Hindu groups, showed pictures of the victim and the accused with the caption "Neha Fayaz true love, justice for love" South First.
The Dharwad bandh by Muslim organisations
The Anjuman-e-Islam in Dharwad called a voluntary bandh of Muslim businesses from 10 am to 3 pm on Monday 22 April. Its president, Ismail Tamatgar, said they would close "to condole the death and show our solidarity with the family" PTI via South First.
On the day, shops owned by Muslims shut for half a day with "Justice for Neha Hiremath" posters. Muslim students marched with placards reading "One murder of a human is equal to the murder of humanity". Reserve police were deployed as BJP protests were also under way PTI via Deccan Herald.
The "love jihad" claims and the other accounts
Scroll describes "love jihad" as a Hindutva conspiracy theory that Muslim men lure Hindu women into relationships in order to convert them Scroll. In this case the accounts differ sharply.
Claim · Victim's family On 19 April Niranjan Hiremath said Fayaz had pestered his daughter for a relationship and she refused, that the family had warned him and his parents, and that "'love jihad' is spreading rapidly" Scroll. He said she was in no relationship, called it a planned murder and said more people were involved Deccan Herald. Her mother, Geetha, said: "There was no relationship between the two" Tribune.
Claim · BJP leaders Union minister and Dharwad candidate Pralhad Joshi suspected a "love jihad" angle PTI via Tribune. Jagadish Shettar said "Neha was a victim of Love Jihad" and sought an NIA probe Deccan Herald.
Claim · Accused's parents Fayaz's father apologised to the family and asked for strict punishment, but said the two were in a relationship. His mother apologised and said Neha "made the first move" South First.
Government's position Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said "Whatever murder happened is due to personal reasons" Scroll. Home Minister G Parameshwara said the two were in love and "There is no love jihad in this murder" Deccan Herald. A senior police officer said Fayaz claimed in interrogation that they had been in a relationship, adding: "It needs to be corroborated and verified" PTI via Tribune.
Documented As reported by IBTimes, the CID chargesheet attributes the killing to her refusal to marry him and makes no reference to "love jihad". It says the two became friends at college in 2020-21 and were in a relationship from 2022 until a falling-out in 2024 IBTimes. The family disputes the relationship account, and the court has not yet ruled on motive.
The political row during the Lok Sabha campaign
The killing came eight days before Karnataka's first polling phase on 26 April, with the second on 7 May ETV Bharat. Deccan Herald noted the family is Veerashaiva Lingayat, a community that holds the key in over 10 of 14 north Karnataka seats Deccan Herald.
The father, a Congress corporator, criticised his own party's government. "The CM, with his statement, is tarnishing my family's reputation," he said Deccan Herald. BJP president J P Nadda visited on 21 April, demanded a CBI probe and said the ministers' statements would "influence" and "dilute" the investigation PTI via Tribune. Union Home Minister Amit Shah met the father in Hubballi on 1 May; Hiremath said Shah told him the case could go to the CBI if needed PTI via Siasat.
Congress leaders pushed back. Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar said the BJP would forget Neha once polls were over Deccan Herald. Parameshwara cited posts saying "Vote for Neha Hiremath" as proof it was being politicised PTI via Business Standard.
Parameshwara expressed regret on 20 April if his "in love" remark had hurt the parents Tribune. Siddaramaiah visited the family on 25 April, and Hiremath apologised to him for "words that were spoken against the government" Deccan Herald. On 2 May the father said, alongside Hebbalkar, that his daughter's murder should not be used for political gain The News Minute.
Timeline
Killing and arrest
Stabbing at BVB College; arrest within hours; ABVP protest TNM.
"Personal reasons" row
Ministers reject "love jihad"; the father hits back DH.
Bandh, protests, CID
Dharwad half-day bandh, BJP statewide protests, case handed to the CID TNM.
Chargesheet
CID files 483 pages DH.
Trial begins
First eyewitnesses examined in Hubballi DH.
High Court denies bail
Dharwad Bench dismisses the bail plea Hans India.
The CID, the chargesheet and the promised special court
On 22 April 2024 Siddaramaiah said: "We have decided to give it to the CID. We will set up a special court for it." He said he had asked police to look into the father's claim of four more suspects PTI via Tribune. On 25 April he said a special court had "already" been established Deccan Herald.
The chargesheet charges Fayaz under IPC sections 302 (murder), 341 (wrongful restraint) and 506 (criminal intimidation). As reported, it says he bought the knife in Dharwad three days earlier and entered the campus masked. Its evidence includes witness statements and CCTV footage IBTimes. The reports reviewed name Fayaz as the only accused.
A year later, Deccan Herald reported that the special court was "nowhere in sight" and the case was before the regular First Additional District and Sessions Court. Law Minister H K Patil blamed "a delay since the High Court denied permission" and said the government would approach it again. The father said he had "lost faith in the state government" Deccan Herald.
Both accounts
Protesters' and family's account
The family say Neha rejected Fayaz, was in no relationship with him, and was killed in a planned attack involving others. They sought the death penalty and a CBI probe. BJP leaders called it "love jihad" and blamed "appeasement politics" PTI.
Police and government account
Police arrested the accused within hours. Ministers called the motive personal. Siddaramaiah said crime had fallen under Congress, citing 1,295 cases in 2023 against 1,300 to 1,370 a year in 2019-2022 PTI via Tribune.
Later developments
On 15 May 2024, another young woman, Anjali Ambiger, 20, was killed in Hubballi after allegedly rejecting a man's proposal. Her family said he had threatened her with Neha's fate. Parameshwara ordered a review of police lapses and an inspector was suspended PTI via South First.
The accused's lawyers sought to move the trial to Belagavi, citing a threat to him and saying no Hubballi advocate would take his case Deccan Herald. The High Court dismissed that plea on 28 April 2025 Deccan Herald. On 4 August 2025 Judge Pallavi B R refused bail. The same day Sri Ram Sena held a rally in Hubballi demanding the death penalty The News Minute.
The trial began on 27 September 2025 with two eyewitnesses from the BVB campus, the accused appearing by video from Dharwad Central Jail Deccan Herald. On 30 June 2026 the High Court's Dharwad Bench refused bail, holding that the gravity of the offence did not warrant it Hans India.
- Arrests: Fayaz Khondunaik, arrested 18 April 2024. Two others arrested on 20 April over social media posts.
- Investigation: Transferred to the CID on 22 April 2024; 483-page chargesheet in July 2024 under IPC 302, 341 and 506.
- Special court: Promised in April 2024; not set up as of April 2025, per Deccan Herald.
- CBI probe: Demanded by the family and BJP; the case remained with the CID as of June 2026, per Hans India.
- Bail: Refused by the sessions court (Aug 2025) and the High Court (June 2026).
- Trial: Under way in Hubballi since September 2025; no verdict reported as of October 2026.
What is still pending
The trial in Hubballi, with 99 listed witnesses, was continuing; no verdict or special court had been reported by October 2026. The family's claim that others were involved has not led to further charges in the reporting reviewed.
Questions people ask
Who killed Neha Hiremath?
Police arrested her former classmate Fayaz Khondunaik of Munavalli, Belagavi district, on 18 April 2024. The CID charged him with murder. His trial is under way and he has not been convicted.
Was the Neha Hiremath case "love jihad"?
Her father and BJP leaders said so. Ministers denied it, and the CID chargesheet, as reported, gives refusal to marry as the motive. The court has not ruled.
Why was there a bandh in Dharwad?
The Anjuman-e-Islam called a half-day bandh of Muslim businesses on 22 April 2024 to condemn the murder and stand with the family.
Was a special court set up?
It was promised in April 2024. In April 2025 Deccan Herald reported none existed and the case was in a regular sessions court.
What is the status of the case in 2026?
The trial began in Hubballi in September 2025. The High Court refused bail on 30 June 2026. No verdict had been reported by October 2026.
Sources
- The News Minute: Stalker stabs Hubballi-Dharwad councillor's daughter to death inside college, 19 Apr 2024
- ETV Bharat: Hubballi girl murder, BJP-ABVP launch protest, 19 Apr 2024
- Deccan Herald: Hubballi girl's father raps CM for saying murder was 'personal issue', 20 Apr 2024
- PTI via Tribune: Girl's murder in Hubballi sparks protests; BJP targets govt, 20 Apr 2024
- Scroll: Karnataka chief minister rejects 'love jihad' allegation, 20 Apr 2024
- Tribune: Karnataka minister apologises to Neha's parents, 20 Apr 2024
- Deccan Herald: Shettar sees 'Love Jihad' conspiracy, demands NIA probe, 21 Apr 2024
- South First: Police arrest two for social media post; Fayaz's father apologises, 21 Apr 2024
- PTI via Tribune: JP Nadda demands CBI probe, 21 Apr 2024
- Deccan Herald: BJP whips up storm over Hubballi student murder, 22 Apr 2024
- PTI via South First: Muslim outfits to observe bandh on 22 April, 22 Apr 2024
- PTI via Business Standard: BJP's Karnataka unit holds state-wide protests, 22 Apr 2024
- PTI via Deccan Herald: Muslims observe half-day bandh in solidarity, 22 Apr 2024
- The News Minute: CM hands over investigation to CID, 22 Apr 2024
- PTI via Tribune: Case to be transferred to CID, special court to be set up, 22 Apr 2024
- Deccan Herald: Accused will face harshest punishment, says CM, 25 Apr 2024
- PTI via Siasat: Amit Shah meets murdered student Neha's father, 1 May 2024
- The News Minute: Don't use my daughter's murder for political gains, 3 May 2024
- PTI via South First: Government to probe factors for repeated attacks on young women, 17 May 2024
- IBTimes: Police rule out love jihad angle in chargesheet, 10 Jul 2024
- Deccan Herald: One year later, no sign of special court, 18 Apr 2025
- Deccan Herald: HC dismisses Fayaz's petition to transfer case to Belagavi, 28 Apr 2025
- Deccan Herald: Hubballi court rejects bail plea of accused, 5 Aug 2025
- The News Minute: Prime accused Fayaz denied bail by Hubballi court, 5 Aug 2025
- Deccan Herald: Court records statement of two witnesses, 27 Sept 2025
- Hans India: HC rejects bail plea of Neha Hiremath murder accused Fayaz, 1 Jul 2026