Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala on Monday vowed strong action in the fatal Mercedes-Benz crash involving a judge's 17-year-old son, declaring that "no one is above the law" and warning that neither the minor nor his father would receive preferential treatment.
The 17-year-old was first released on station bail on Sunday after the crash but was taken into custody again after protests by the victim's family and local residents. He was subsequently produced before the Juvenile Justice Board, which granted him bail again, triggering fresh protests and questions over the police's handling of the case.
Acknowledging that the police's initial handling of the case was incorrect, Chennithala said he had directed the Director General of Police (DGP) to review the investigation and initiate steps to cancel the juvenile's bail, as outrage grows over the death of a 55-year-old scooter rider in Kochi.
"No one is above the law when a life is lost on our roads. In the Cheranalloor case, where a 17-year-old was driving the vehicle involved in a fatal crash, I have directed the DGP to ensure urgent and appropriate action under the law," the minister wrote on X.
He added, "There will be no room for influence, pressure or preferential treatment, irrespective of who the accused is or what their background may be. The family of the victim should have no reason to fear that justice will be compromised. The law will take its course — without fear or favour."
MINISTER ACKNOWLEDGES POLICE LAPSES
The Home Minister also assured the Keralam Assembly that strict action would be taken in the matter. Responding to a notice on the issue, he acknowledged lapses on the part of the police.
"The initial action taken by the Cheranalloor police was not correct," Chennithala said, adding that he had contacted the city police commissioner and the Director General of Police after learning about the incident.
"I was surprised because the Juvenile Magistrate immediately gave bail. Normally, in such cases, they do not give bail immediately," he added.
Chennithala said the police should have initially invoked the appropriate legal provisions, including those relating to culpable homicide. He said he had directed the DGP to review the case.
The minister said the juvenile was produced before the Juvenile Justice Board again after an additional charge was included, but was granted bail.
Chennithala added that he had directed the police to initiate steps to cancel the bail.
"I asked the police to take further action to cancel the bail. What I am told is that the owner is the judge, the father of the minor. We will have to take action against the judge also and we will go ahead with strong action," he said.
HIGH COURT NOD FOR CASE AGAINST JUDGE
Meanwhile, the Kerala High Court granted permission to the police to register a case against the Additional District and Sessions Judge, the father of the minor driver and the registered owner of the Mercedes-Benz involved in the accident that killed 55-year-old Jayabalakrishnan.
The permission was granted on the administrative side after the police approached the High Court seeking approval to register a case against the judge, according to sources.
The development assumes significance as the vehicle involved in the accident was registered in the judge’s name. Chennithala had earlier told the Keralam Assembly that action would be initiated against the boy’s father if warranted by the investigation.
"If the vehicle is in the judge's name, a case will have to be registered against him if necessary," the minister said, assuring the House that no one would be allowed to escape accountability.
The police have invoked relevant provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act in connection with the accident. The registered owner and guardian could potentially be held responsible under the law when a vehicle is involved in an accident caused by a juvenile.
CULPABLE HOMICIDE CHARGES AGAINST MINOR
Speaking about the investigation, Kochi City Police Commissioner Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar said the police initially registered a case under the provision relating to causing death by negligence, based on the first information statement available at the time.
During the subsequent investigation, evidence emerged indicating that the vehicle was being driven at high speed. The police then altered the relevant section to Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with culpable homicide not amounting to murder, the commissioner added.
He said the additional evidence was not available when the initial case was registered and that the charges were subsequently altered as the investigation progressed.
The commissioner also said the juvenile was produced before the concerned Juvenile Justice Board in accordance with the prescribed procedures under the juvenile justice framework.
He added that the relevant provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act had also been invoked and that further action involving the registered owner would be taken after following the applicable procedures.
FATAL CRASH ON SUNDAY
The accident occurred between 2 am and 3 am on Sunday in the Cheranalloor area of Kochi, when the Mercedes-Benz driven by the judge's 17-year-old son hit Jayabalakrishnan's two-wheeler from behind.
Jayabalakrishnan, a 55-year-old man who ran a roadside eatery, was returning home with groceries when the crash occurred. He died while being taken to hospital.
The teenager was taken into police custody following the accident. According to the police, the preliminary report did not indicate that he was under the influence of alcohol. Blood samples were collected for further analysis.
Initially, the police registered a case relating to causing death by negligence. The juvenile was subsequently released on bail under the applicable provisions of the Juvenile Justice framework.
After evidence indicating overspeeding emerged during the investigation, the police added Section 105 of the BNS, relating to culpable homicide not amounting to murder and produced the juvenile before the Juvenile Justice Board again.
The boy was detained again after his release on bail on Sunday, following protests by the victim’s family outside the Cheranalloor police station.
Jayabalakrishnan's daughter said on Monday that she would continue her fight for justice and would not allow the judge or his minor son to escape responsibility for her father’s death.
She alleged that the police had treated the juvenile differently because he was the son of a judge and said she had lost faith in the force.
She further argued that incidents involving minors were being normalised and that juvenile status should not become a means of avoiding accountability for serious offences.
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