Kerala High Court Stays Arrest of Judge in Kochi Mercedes Crash Killing 55-Year-Old Jayabalakrishnan

The Kerala High Court has stayed the arrest of an Additional District Judge accused in the Kochi Mercedes-Benz crash case, ruling that detention is unnecessary if he cooperates with the investigation. The bench directed that this stay remains valid until further orders and mandated the judge appear for questioning at 1 pm on Thursday.

The incident traces back to the early hours of October 25 on Container Road near Maraparambu in Cheranalloor. Jayabalakrishnan, 55, was returning home after closing his roadside eatery when a Mercedes-Benz allegedly struck his scooter from behind, killing him instantly. The vehicle was registered in the judge’s name, and police sources stated his 17-year-old son informed the parents immediately after the crash, prompting them to rush to the scene in a separate car.

In his anticipatory bail plea, the judge claimed he was asleep when his son took the car and learned of the accident only via phone call. He argued that ownership alone does not establish criminal liability and that his visit to the crash site was driven by parental concern, not an attempt to misuse his judicial position to hamper the probe. He serves at the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal in Irinjalakuda and was booked under Section 199A of the Motor Vehicles Act for the liability of a vehicle owner when a juvenile commits an offence.

The case has already triggered severe administrative fallout. Four police personnel were suspended for alleged lapses, and the probe shifted to the District Crime Branch. Kochi City Police Commissioner S Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar was removed from his post amid allegations of mishandling the investigation. Additionally, the Kerala Motor Vehicles Department issued a show-cause notice to the judge regarding how his minor son was allowed to drive the car.

The victim’s family continues to demand strict action against both the teenager and his father. The allegations against the judge remain unproven in court, and the investigation is ongoing. The judge’s appearance before the investigating team on Thursday will determine the next steps in a case that has exposed deep cracks in Kerala’s police handling of high-profile accidents.