Cheranalloor crash case: Kochi City Police Commissioner removed, 4 suspended
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Kochi: The Kerala government has replaced Kochi City Police Commissioner Kaliraj Mahesh amid growing criticism of the police response to a fatal road accident in Cheranalloor involving a car allegedly driven by the 17-year-old son of an Additional District Judge.
R. Nishanthini has been appointed as the new commissioner following allegations of lapses in the investigation. The move comes a day after four personnel attached to Cheranalloor police station were suspended pending further inquiry.
Those suspended include Circle Inspector K.S. Shyam Kumar, Station House Officer V.S. Viswajith, Grade Assistant Sub-Inspector K.T. Manoj and Senior Civil Police Officer Arun Joshi. Their suspension followed a preliminary investigation by ADGP P. Vijayan, who inspected the accident site, reviewed records and met the victim’s family.
The case relates to the death of Jayabalakrishnan, 55, a roadside eatery owner who was riding a scooter when a Mercedes-Benz allegedly struck him on Container Road early Sunday.
The handling of the case drew public anger after the teenager was initially booked for rash driving and causing death by negligence, then released on station bail. The case was subsequently strengthened, and the car’s owner, the teenager’s father, was also named as an accused.
The probe has been transferred to the Crime Branch. Investigators have inspected the judge’s flat in Aluva and examined CCTV footage. The victim’s family plans to approach the High Court seeking further action.
With IANS inputs