Thiruvananthapuram: City police commissioner Sanjay Kumar Gurudin has confirmed that IAS officer Sriram Venkitaraman was behind the wheels at the time of the tragic accident in which journalist KM Basheer was killed.
The confirmation comes after the verification of CCTV visuals obtained from the area.
Venkitaraman and his friend Wafa Firoz, who was also in the car, have confirmed this, the commissioner said.
Witnesses of the accident had told media that Sriram was driving the car. However, the police seemed reluctant to confirm the account and said that it could be confirmed only after verification.
Meanwhile, a conspiracy to save the officer was alleged as it emerged that the blood sample of Venkitaraman was not taken immediately after the accident.
The doctor who examined the officer told media that only a physical examination was conducted as police did not request a blood test. The doctor said that an alcoholic odour emanated from him during the time of examination.