Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala announced the suspension of Circle Inspector Shyam Kumar KS, Sub‑Inspector Vishwajith, Grade Sub‑Inspector Manoj KT and Civil Police Officer Arun Joshi on Tuesday, citing investigative failures in the Mercedes‑Benz crash that killed 55‑year‑old Jayabalakrishnan.
The incident, which involved the judge’s 17‑year‑old son driving the vehicle into the victim’s scooter, prompted the family to accuse the police of favouritism and of hastening the minor’s bail, a claim the state has now taken seriously.
In a move that adds Section 199A to the FIR, the government has formally implicated the judge—owner of the car—in the case, a change that was only made after the victim’s relatives demanded a stricter charge. The addition comes as the ADGP of Law and Order, P. Vijayan, inspected the Cheranellore police station and confirmed that a photograph of the boy was deleted at the judge’s direction.
The bail granted to the minor last night, which the family says was rushed, is now subject to cancellation. Home Minister Chennithala told the assembly that the court would be approached to revoke the bail and that no judicial officer would receive preferential treatment.
The family has also requested a review of CCTV footage from the police station, alleging that officers may have helped the accused delete incriminating videos and hide the boy’s Instagram account. The investigation remains open, with the next step expected to be a sessions‑court hearing on the bail application.