Cheranalloor accident: Teen charged with culpable homicide, police commissioner to face show-cause notice

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has directed the Director General of Police (DGP) to take urgent action after a 17-year-old accused in the Cheranalloor road accident case was released on station bail. The Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) in charge of law and order will personally investigate allegations of lapses by the police. A show-cause notice will be issued to Kochi City Police Commissioner Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar.

Jayabalakrishnan, 56, a native of Manjali, died after a car driven by the teenager hit his scooter at around 3 am on Sunday. The teenager had reportedly taken the car from his family's flat in Aluva without their knowledge.

Jayabalakrishnan ran a roadside eatery near Chittoor. He was returning home after closing his shop for the night when a speeding Mercedes-Benz car rammed his scooter from behind. The impact completely damaged the scooter and threw him onto the road.

Although a case was registered against the teenager following the accident, he was released on station bail by the evening. The decision triggered controversy, prompting Chennithala to direct urgent action.
Meanwhile, a charge of culpable homicide has been added against the 17-year-old. The case had initially been registered for causing death by negligence.

The teenager's father, an Additional Sessions Judge and the owner of the car, may also face a case in connection with the incident. The possibility of registering offences under the Motor Vehicles Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) is being examined, the ADGP's office said.