Kumar, an inspector general-rank officer, was transferred and replaced by IG R Nishanthini.
The accused’s father, the judge, was subsequently named as an accused in the case. However, the Kerala high court directed police not to arrest him. Meanwhile, the police investigating the case have approached the district sessions court seeking cancellation of the bail granted to the minor.
The victim’s family has alleged a conspiracy to derail the case after the 17-year-old accused was granted bail at the police station. The decision had triggered protests and raised questions over accountability.
The accident took place in Kochi on October 25, when the Mercedes-Benz rammed a two-wheeler, killing 55-year-old Jayabalakrishnan.
Responding to reports that the judge had called him and that the investigation was conducted in a manner favourable to the judicial officer, Kumar said, “The judge never called me. Amid reports that the judge had allegedly contacted Kumar after the accident, the commissioner was transferred. Speaking to reporters, Kumar denied that the judge had called him or that anyone had sought to influence the investigation. Nobody else has called me either. Neither the judge nor anyone else has ever approached me asking that the case be handled in a particular way. I have never received any such request from anywhere.”
KOCHI: Kochi city police commissioner Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar, who was recently transferred amid reports of alleged lapses in the investigation into the death of a scooterist hit by a Mercedes-Benz allegedly driven by the minor son of an additional district and sessions Judge, on Friday denied that the judicial officer or anyone else had contacted him regarding the case.