Kochi Merc Crash: Four Police Officers Including Circle Inspector, SHO Suspended
The suspensions came after a preliminary report by ADGP (Law and Order) P Vijayan, who visited the victim’s family and accident site on Tuesday. He also stopped by the Cheranalloor police station to look into claims of serious procedural lapses and preferential treatment in the case
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Four police officers, including a Circle Inspector and a Station House Officer, were suspended due to lapses in investigating the fatal car accident involving the minor son of a judicial officer.
The suspended officers are Circle Inspector Shyamkumar, Station House Officer Vishwajith P S, and Civil Police Officers Manoj K P and Arun Joy. Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala announced the suspension towards the end of the day's proceedings in the Kerala Legislative Assembly, after earlier promising that strict action would be taken against the officers before 4 pm.
The suspensions came after a preliminary report by ADGP (Law and Order) P Vijayan, who visited the victim’s family and accident site on Tuesday. He also stopped by the Cheranalloor police station to look into claims of serious procedural lapses and preferential treatment in the case.
The family of victim Jayabalakrishnan had set a 4 pm deadline for firm action against the officers allegedly responsible. Senior police officials are also probing accusations that a judicial officer tried to destroy evidence, with his statement recorded at his residence on Tuesday. Meanwhile, a teenager deleted his account, which police suspect was an attempt to erase visuals of high-speed driving.
The Home Minister had earlier voiced strong dissatisfaction with how the police handled the case, questioning why relatively light charges that could allow the accused to get bail were applied in the death of 55-year-old Jayabalakrishnan, who ran a roadside eatery and was his family’s breadwinner.
“I asked the DGP on what grounds weak sections, which could easily lead to bail, were charged against someone who killed a poor man through reckless driving. The government has no obligation to defend the irresponsible actions of the police,” Chennithala told the Assembly while speaking during an adjournment motion.
Jayabalakrishnan lost his life in the accident involving a Mercedes-Benz, allegedly driven recklessly by the 17-year-old son of a judicial officer.
Earlier, during the Assembly session, Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan criticized the police for not taking the Home Minister seriously, citing the mishandling of recent accident cases. “You’re saying all the right things, but the truth is the police force has little regard for them,” he remarked.
In response, the Home Minister said, “I have no issue admitting the failures of the police department. Pinarayi Vijayan served as Home Minister for 10 years and never acknowledged any mistakes by the police. I’m very open—if the police have erred, I’ll say so.”
The Home Minister said the judge had committed something grievously wrong. He was not supposed to visit the police station.
His behaviour was rude when the children of Jayabalakrishnan tried to talk to him.
