Four cops suspended for mishandling Cheranalloor accident case

The government on Tuesday suspended four police officers attached to the Cheranalloor police station here on the charge of mishandling the case relating to the death of a 55-year-old man allegedly knocked down by a speeding luxury car driven by the 17-year-old son of an additional judge.

The action followed a report submitted to the Home department by ADGP P. Vijayan. Accompanied by a team from Thiruvananthapuram, he visited the Cheranalloor police station and held a meeting attended by senior officers, including District Police Chief (Kochi City) S. Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar, as directed by Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala.

The officers suspended are Sub-Inspector and Station House Officer Viswajith V.S., Circle Inspector Syam Kumar K.S., Grade Assistant Sub-Inspector Manoj K.T., and Senior Civil Police Officer Arun Joshy.

The Cheranalloor police have come under criticism amid allegations that officers were rude to the victim’s family, invoked relatively minor charges against the accused, and delayed action against the judge, the father of the accused teenager. It was also alleged that Mr. Joshy forcibly took away a mobile phone from the victim’s family and deleted photographs of the accused they had taken.

The arrest of the father-son duo, suspension of the judge, and action against the police officers were the three major demands raised by the victim’s son and daughter, who staged a protest in front of the police station for hours on Monday before calling it off following assurances from Mr. Chennithala.

“The family has shared their demands, which will be prioritised. Based on these demands, records will be examined and evidence collected. We have to ensure that everything is done in a proper manner so that a strong case is presented in court and the family’s interests are not jeopardised,” Mr. Vijayan told mediapersons after visiting the family at their residence in Cheranalloor. A banner demanding justice for the accident victim Jayabalakrishnan greeted the senior police officer on his arrival at the family’s home.

Mr. Vijayan said the police had already moved court seeking the cancellation of the teenager’s bail. On the arrest of the additional judge, he said the issue involved multiple legal formalities, including obtaining the requisite permission from the judiciary. He rejected suggestions that the involvement of a judicial officer could influence the investigation, asserting that the law would take its course irrespective of those involved. Mr. Vijayan also visited the accident site along Container Road at Cheranalloor.

Meanwhile, the Motor Vehicles department (MVD) initiated steps to suspend the registration certificate of the vehicle involved in the accident and bar the teenager from applying for a driving licence until he turns 25. “We will feed the boy’s Aadhaar number on the Parivahan portal so that he will be blocked at the stage of applying for a learner’s licence itself. The registered owner of the vehicle will also have to pay a fine. We have deputed two Motor Vehicle Inspectors to inspect the vehicle. All these measures will be taken based on the police report,” MVD sources said.

In a Facebook post, the Chief Minister assured that the family would be provided all necessary legal assistance.