Cheranalloor Crash: Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala Admits Police Lapses in Assembly

Thiruvananthapuram: Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has admitted that the police made mistakes in the case involving the death of Jayabalakrishnan, a roadside eatery owner who was hit by a Mercedes-Benz driven by a 17-year-old son of a judge in Cheranalloor. His admission in the Assembly came amid criticism that the UDF government and the police had sided with the accused and his family from the outset.

The accident occurred around 2.20 am on Sunday near the Marapparambu bus stop on Container Road in Cheranalloor. Jayabalakrishnan, who ran a roadside eatery near the South Chittoor temple, was returning home on his scooter after closing his shop when the Mercedes-Benz, driven recklessly at high speed by the 17-year-old son of an Additional District Judge, hit his scooter from behind.

Although the accident occurred in the early hours, the FIR was registered only at 7.34 am, with the name of the 17-year-old accused omitted. Both the teenager and his father, the Additional District Judge, were at the police station at the time. The police invoked relatively weak provisions relating to rash driving and causing death by negligence.

The accused was released on station bail shortly afterwards without being produced before the Juvenile Justice Board. He returned home before the deceased's body was cremated.

Despite the vehicle owner's presence at the station alongside his son from morning until evening, the police did not register a case against him under the relevant legal provisions. The police also remained passive when the Additional District Judge allegedly behaved arrogantly towards Jayabalakrishnan's family at the station.

When a relative of the deceased took a photograph of the accused, an aide took the phone and deleted the image on the judge's instructions. The police had also removed the board displaying the judge's official designation from the Mercedes-Benz earlier. The police quickly concluded that the accused had not consumed alcohol.

The use of weaker charges, the release of the accused on station bail and the failure to register a case against his father, the vehicle owner, triggered widespread protests. Organisations, including the DYFI, marched to the police station. Jayabalakrishnan's children also arrived at the station to protest after his funeral.

It was only after public outrage intensified that the government took action. The charges were subsequently upgraded to culpable homicide, the accused was arrested and produced before the Juvenile Justice Board.

The later action was taken in a manner that ensured the accused would be granted bail again, despite the serious lapses committed earlier, the report said.