Mercedes crash: Kochi police commissioner removed from post after accident involving judge’s minor son; 4 cops suspended

Kochi: The Keralam govt has removed S. Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar as Kochi City District Police Chief amid mounting allegations of police lapses in the handling of the Cheranalloor fatal car crash case, in which a 55-year-old man was killed by a speeding luxury car allegedly driven by the 17-year-old son of an additional judge.Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan signed the order on Wednesday , acting on a recommendation from the Home Department. R. Nishanthini, currently serving as IGP (South Zone), is likely to succeed Kumar, who is yet to be given a new posting.The removal follows the suspension on Tuesday of four officers attached to the Cheranalloor police station. The suspended officers are station house officer and sub-inspector Viswajith V S, circle inspector Syam Kumar K S, grade ASI Manoj K T and senior civil police officer Arun Joshy. Jayabalakrishnan, who ran a roadside eatery, was reportedly heading home when the accident occurred around 2.20 am.Home minister Ramesh Chennithala had told the assembly that there had been serious police lapses and that he had personally reprimanded the director general of police after learning that the FIR had not initially included the charge of culpable homicide. A team of officers led by ADGP (law and order) P Vijayan visited the accident site and the victim’s family in Kochi on Tuesday, as directed by the minister.Vijayan held discussions with senior Kochi city police officers, including commissioner Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar, for nearly two hours on Tuesday. He also visited the accident site at Maraparambu on Container Road and briefly spoke to a watchman who was present at the spot. Both Ramesh and Vijayan said the law would take its course irrespective of persons involved.Addressing media, Vijayan had said that the police had already moved the court seeking to revoke the bail granted to the juvenile by the concerned magistrate. When asked about the possibility of an arrest of the judge, as he was arrayed as an accused, he said that it was a matter that involved multiple legal formalities, including obtaining the requisite permission from the judiciary.Meanwhile, the arrival of a separate team from the state capital is widely interpreted as a sign of the authorities' dissatisfaction with the city police's handling of the investigation.The family of the victim had also staged another protest at the station on Monday night, but called it off after Ramesh assured a fair investigation. They had warned that they would resume the protest if their demands were not met by 4 pm on Tuesday.Meanwhile, an overnight search at the judge's apartment in Aluva continued for several hours until Wednesday morning. Police have collected CCTV footage from the premises and seized documents relating to the luxury car involved in the crash and a premium motorcycle. Footage purportedly showing the car being driven out of the apartment had earlier circulated widely on social media.The police had initially registered a case against the minor driver under Sections 281 and 106(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), relating to rash driving and causing death by a rash or negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide. The teenager was subsequently released on station bail under Section 8 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.Jayabalakrishnan, who ran a roadside eatery, was heading home after closing the shop when the accident occurred at 2.20 am on Sunday. Both vehicles were travelling towards Kalamassery.Police had evidence that the car had travelled at over 100 kmph sometime before the accident, and Section 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and charges for speeding were added. The juvenile who was sent home on Monday morning was later picked up again after an additional section was added.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Kochi | Silver Rate in Kochi | Bank Holidays in Kochi | Public Holidays in KochiStay updated with the latest Kochi news. Download the TOI App.