Kochi: Keralam Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Friday visited the family of Jayabalakrishnan, who was killed after a Mercedes-Benz allegedly driven by the minor son of an Additional District and Sessions Judge rammed his scooter in Kochi’s Cheranalloor area, and assured them of the government’s support.
The visit came amid growing scrutiny of the October 25 accident and allegations of preferential treatment in the investigation. The victim’s family has accused the judge of attempting to tamper with evidence and demanded that CCTV footage from the area be examined.
Satheesan was accompanied by Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden and MLA T J Vinod. In a Facebook post, the Chief Minister said he had visited the family, consoled them and assured them that the government would stand by them.
Bhadrakeerthi, the victim’s daughter, said the family had submitted a written representation to the Chief Minister. While Satheesan assured them of the government’s support, she said they had not received any concrete assurance.
On the demand for the judge’s suspension, Bhadrakeerthi said the government had its limitations and that the judiciary would have to decide the matter. She added that the family would decide whether to resume its protest based on the developments in the case.
“If we remain silent, they will let things loose. The concern we have been raising from the beginning is that the judge on the opposite side is someone who handles cases of this nature,” she said.
Police commissioner denies judge contacted him
Meanwhile, Kochi City Police Commissioner Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar denied reports that the judge had contacted him or that anyone had sought to influence the investigation.
“From the beginning of the case to the end, no one from outside contacted me. We have not made any intervention in the case. The investigation has proceeded on the basis of evidence and will continue to do so,” Kumar told reporters.
He specifically denied that the judge or anyone else had approached him with a request to handle the case in a particular manner.
Kumar was recently transferred and replaced by IG R Nishanthini amid allegations of lapses in the investigation. However, he described the transfer as a routine administrative move and said he had no issue with it.
Keralam Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala also denied that the commissioner's transfer was linked to the Cheranalloor accident or was intended as punishment.
“The transfer is not a punishment; it is part of the normal administrative process. I have never said anywhere that the transfer was connected to this incident,” Chennithala said.
He added that action had been taken against those responsible for the alleged lapses based on a report submitted by the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP). Four police personnel had earlier been suspended in connection with the handling of the case.
Court seeks fresh petition on minor’s bail
The Additional Sessions Court, which is considering the investigation team's petition seeking cancellation of the minor's bail, directed the prosecution to file a fresh petition after pointing out that the document contained the child's name and address.
The court noted that disclosing the identity of a child in conflict with the law could attract imprisonment under the Juvenile Justice Act. It directed the prosecution to remove the identifying details. The lawyer representing the victim’s family was also asked to remove such details from the impleading petition filed on their behalf.
During the hearing, a relative of Jayabalakrishnan questioned whether the lawyer representing the family had been authorised to do so, alleging that the vakalath had been signed under pressure. The lawyer said the victim’s daughter had authorised him, while Bhadrakeerthi denied that the family had been forced to sign the document.
Advocate M G Sreejith, representing the victim’s side, said the family had filed an impleading application to assist the prosecution in challenging the bail granted to the minor. He said the court had issued notices to the child in conflict with the law and his parent.
The minor was initially granted bail at the police station, triggering protests and allegations of preferential treatment. He was subsequently taken into custody after additional charges were included in the case but was later granted bail by the Juvenile Justice Board. The accused's father, the judge, was also arraigned as an accused, although the Kerala High Court directed the police not to arrest him.
The accident occurred on October 25 when the Mercedes-Benz, allegedly driven by the 17-year-old, rammed into Jayabalakrishnan’s two-wheeler. The 55-year-old, a native of Manjali, died in the crash.
The District Crime Branch conducted an evidence-collection raid as part of the investigation. The case, initially registered under the provision relating to death caused by negligence, was later altered to Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with culpable homicide, after evidence allegedly indicated that the vehicle was overspeeding.
On Wednesday, the Kochi District Sessions Court denied bail to the minor accused and his acquaintance in connection with the accident.
Home Minister warns police against evidence tampering
Separately, Chennithala warned that strict action would be taken against police personnel involved in misconduct, referring to an officer allegedly caught stealing MDMA seized in a case and kept at a police station.
He said action had already been taken against the officer concerned and warned that officials involved in misappropriating seized narcotics or tampering with evidence would not be allowed to remain in the police force.
Referring to Operation Toofan, a flagship initiative of the Keralam government, the Home Minister said the programme was aimed at protecting the state and that misconduct by officials would not be tolerated.
(With agency inputs from ANI and PTI)
