Cheranalloor Accident: Court Issues Notices to Juvenile and Parent in Bail Cancellation Plea
A court has issued notices to a juvenile and his parent in a plea to cancel bail following a fatal Cheranalloor accident involving a judge's son.
Legal tensions are escalating in the wake of a fatal road accident in the Cheranalloor suburb of Kochi. A court has issued notices to a 17-year-old juvenile—the son of an additional district judge—and his parent, following a plea to cancel the bail previously granted to the teenager. The move comes as representatives of the victims seek to challenge the legal relief provided to the minor accused in the Cheranalloor accident bail plea proceedings.
The Legal Battle Over Bail
Advocate MG Sreejith, representing the aggrieved parties, informed reporters that the legal challenge was initiated after a magistrate court initially granted bail to the juvenile. While the state had already filed an appeal against this decision, the victims' representatives filed an impleading application to support the prosecution's efforts to have the bail order revoked.
According to Advocate Sreejith, the court has already deliberated on the maintainability of the challenge. Having expressed satisfaction with the arguments, the court issued notices to the teenager, referred to as a child in conflict with the law, and his parent. The matter is now scheduled for further hearings, with a date set for November 13, and a preceding hearing on October 30.
Tragedy on the Road
The case centers on a horrific incident that occurred early on a Sunday morning. A luxury car, allegedly driven by the 17-year-old son of an additional district judge, rammed into a scooter from behind. The impact claimed the life of 55-year-old Jayabalakrishnan, a resident of Manjali.
Investigations revealed that the luxury vehicle involved in the crash is registered in the name of the teenager’s father, the Additional District Judge. In a bid to gather more evidence, the District Crime Branch (DCB) conducted a raid late Tuesday night as part of their ongoing probe into the collision.
Police Lapses and High-Level Shake-ups
The handling of the case has sparked significant controversy, leading to major administrative changes within the Kochi police force. Kochi City Police Commissioner S Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar is set to be transferred following allegations of police lapses in the investigation. This action follows directives from Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala. R Nishanthini is expected to take over as the new Commissioner.
Furthermore, four police personnel have been suspended due to alleged failures in the initial handling of the case. The incident has also drawn political fire, with BJP MLA V Muraleedharan criticizing the police response and the overall management of the investigation.
Shifting Charges and Legal Provisions
The nature of the criminal charges has evolved as the investigation progressed. Commissioner Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar stated that the case was initially registered under provisions relating to death caused by negligence based on the First Information Statement (FIS).
However, as evidence emerged suggesting the vehicle was overspeeding at the time of the crash, the charges were upgraded to Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to culpable homicide.
Accountability for Guardians
The police have emphasized that the legal process is following the Juvenile Justice rules, and the minor has been produced before the Juvenile Justice Board. Additionally, the authorities have invoked the Motor Vehicles Act, which allows for action against the guardian or registered owner of a vehicle when an accident is caused by a juvenile. Since the teenager's father is the registered owner of the car, these specific legal provisions have been applied to the case.