Thiruvananthapuram: Even as the police faced allegations of favouring IAS officer Sriram Venkitaraman in the accident case, DGP Loknath Behera promised a free and fair probe. All aspects would be investigated and the law will take its course, he said. The doubts about efforts to water down the case were unwarranted, said Mr Behera.
The black Vento car owned by Wafa Firoze, who was with Sriram when the accident happened, had been charged thrice for speeding. Ms Firoze has not paid the fine. Ms Firoze told the police that Sriram was driving the car at the time of the accident.
“Sriram called me on my mobile phone and asked for my car. By 12.40 a.m. I reached Kowdiar and thereafter, he was behind the wheel. He drove it at high speed. I got acquainted with him through his Facebook page,” she told the police. Transport Minister K. Saseendran said that a thorough probe would be conducted into the accident .
Justice Kemal Pasha pointed out serious flaws by the police in handling the case and initiating timely legal procedures.
“Initially, the police said that the woman, who was with Venkita-raman in the car, was driving it at the time of the accident. However, they allowed her to go. This should not have happened. The police should have arrested her if she had been at the driver’s seat. However, later when witnesses clarified that Venkitar-aman was driving the car, the police did not go for a blood test saying that they did not get Sriram’s consent to take his blood sample. However, legally they do not need the consent of an accused in a crime to take his or her blood sample. Even force can be used for the purpose,” said Justice Pasha.
