At 2:20 a.m. on Sunday, a Mercedes‑Benz driven by a 17‑year‑old struck a scooter on Container Road in Cheranalloor, killing 55‑year‑old Jayabalakrishnan, a local eatery owner who was returning home after closing his shop.
An initial filing of rash driving under Sections 281 and 106(1) of the BNS was followed by release on bail, but a later addition of Section 105 reflecting culpable homicide sparked public anger.
ADGP P. Vijayan visited the crash site, reviewed police records, and on Tuesday suspended four officers from Cheranalloor station for negligence, a move that drew criticism from community leaders.
Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala assured the Assembly that those found responsible would face action, a promise that added pressure on the state government amid its current legislative session.
The judge in question, posted in Thrissur, is booked under Section 199A of the Motor Vehicles Act, holding the vehicle owner liable for the minor’s offence, and the Kerala High Court is preparing a disciplinary hearing.
Family members, including the victim’s wife Sreelatha, have demanded accountability, while the police commissioner’s replacement by R. Nishanthini signals a shift in Kochi police leadership ahead of the High Court hearing slated for November 15.