The Supreme Court on Wednesday transferred the trial of Professor H S Sabharwal murder case from Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh to Nagpur in Maharashtra.

A Bench headed by Justice Arijit Pasayat also directed that the public prosecutor be changed in the case.

The Bench passed the order on a petition filed by the slain professor's family alleging that free and fair trial was not possible in Madhya Pradesh.

The Bench also made it clear that the order of the transfer of the case would not mean that it had gone into the merit of the allegation made by the family of the slain professor.

Harbhajan Singh [Images] Sabharwal, a professor in Ujjain college, had died on August 26, 2006, after he was allegedly attacked by Akhil Bharatiya Vidyrathi Parishad leaders protesting against the cancellation of election in the university.

The professor had declared the student election null and void. Protesting his decision, some students of Madhav College had attacked him leading to his death.

The Bench while reserving its judgment on March 7 had indicated that it would direct the sessions court of Nagpur to complete the trial within eight months.