Hit-and-run: Kochi police commissioner transferred after crash involving judge’s son

Kochi City Police Commissioner Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar has been transferred, along with the suspension of four personnel.

KOCHI: The Kerala government on Wednesday has transferred Kochi city police commissioner Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar and suspended four police personnel following alleged lapses in the investigation into the Cheranallur accident in which a 55-year-old scooter rider was killed by a Mercedes-Benz allegedly driven by the 17-year-old son of an additional district judge.R Nishanthini will replace Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar as Kochi city police commissioner, while P Prakash has been appointed inspector general of police, South Region.Prakash will also continue to hold charge of the State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB). A government order announcing the transfers was issued following directions from the home minister.The suspended personnel are station house officer and sub-inspector Viswajith V S, circle inspector Syam Kumar K S, grade assistant sub-inspector Manoj K T and senior civil police officer Arun Joshy.

Home minister Ramesh Chennithala announced the suspensions in the assembly on Tuesday, citing serious lapses in the handling of the case.The action comes amid mounting scrutiny of the police investigation, particularly the initial registration of the case under provisions relating to death caused by negligence and the subsequent addition of a culpable homicide charge after protests by the victim's family.

Case altered after evidence of overspeeding

Jayabalakrishnan, a native of Manjali who ran a roadside eatery, was reportedly returning home when the accident occurred around 2.20 am.

The car allegedly rammed into his scooter from behind on Container Road near Maraparambu in Cheranallur.The victim was rushed to hospital but later died. The Mercedes-Benz involved in the accident is registered in the name of the teenager's father, an additional district judge.Police initially registered a case under provisions relating to death caused by negligence, based on the initial First Information Statement (FIS).

However, the case was subsequently altered to Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with culpable homicide, after investigators said evidence indicated that the car was being driven at excessive speed.The teenager was subsequently produced before the Juvenile Justice Board, which granted him bail. Police have since approached the court seeking cancellation of the bail, according to ADGP (law and order) P Vijayan.

The preliminary police report indicated that the teenager was not under the influence of alcohol. His blood samples were collected for further analysis.