Bhadra Keerthi, Jayabalakrishnan’s daughter, and other family members are also seen ADGP (Law & Order) P. ADGP P Vijayan speaks to the media on Tuesday after visiting the family of Jayabalakrishnan. Vijayan along with daughter Bhadra Keerthi and other family members speaking with media persons on Tuesday after he visited the family of Jayabalakrishnan, who was killed after a luxury sedan driven by the minor son of a judge rammed his scooter
Thiruvananthapuram/Kochi: Four police officers have been suspended for lapses in handling the Cheranelloor accident case, in which 55-year-old Jayabalakrishnan was killed after a Mercedes-Benz driven by a 17-year-old hit his scooter. Jayabalakrishnan, who ran a roadside eatery, was reportedly heading home when the accident occurred around 2.20 am.
Vijayan said the family’s genuine demands would be given priority. Both Ramesh and Vijayan said the law would take its course irrespective of persons involved. The suspended officers are station house officer and sub-inspector Viswajith V S, circle inspector Syam Kumar K S, grade ASI Manoj K T and senior civil police officer Arun Joshy. The accident, involving the minor son of an additional district judge, brought police handling of the case under scrutiny. The teenager was initially booked only for rash driving and causing death by negligence, and was subsequently granted station bail. Jayabalakrishnan’s family had demanded the judge’s arrest and suspension, besides action against police officers responsible for lapses. He also visited the accident site at Maraparambu on Container Road and briefly spoke to a watchman who was present at the spot.
Home minister Ramesh Chennithala announced the suspensions in the assembly on Tuesday. The charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder was added late on Sunday night, after the victim’s children protested at the police station and the minister intervened. Vijayan held discussions with senior Kochi city police officers, including commissioner Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar, for nearly two hours on Tuesday.
Ramesh told the assembly that there had been serious police lapses and that he had personally reprimanded the director general of police after learning that the FIR had not initially included the charge of culpable homicide. A team of officers led by ADGP (law and order) P Vijayan visited the accident site and the victim’s family in Kochi on Tuesday, as directed by the minister.
The investigation has been transferred to the crime branch.
The minor was later produced before the Juvenile Justice Board, which granted him bail. On Monday, the judge was also booked under provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act relating to offences involving a juvenile driver.