Cheranalloor accident: Family accuses police of shielding 17-year-old; protest intensifies

KOCHI: The family of Jayabalakrishnan, who was killed in the Cheranalloor accident, has intensified its protest over the grant of bail to the 17-year-old who drove the Benz car. The family alleged that the police were trying to protect the teenager and had helped destroy evidence in the case. They also demanded action against Additional District Judge Reno Francis Xavier, the accused's father and the owner of the Benz car. The protest is being held in front of the Cheranalloor Circle Inspector's office.

The family alleged that police officials had intervened to delete mobile phone footage showing the teenager at the accident scene. According to them, a police officer handed over the phone containing the footage to a person who had accompanied the teenager. The person subsequently deleted the visuals, the family alleged. They said this had further strengthened their suspicion that the police were trying to protect the accused.

The victim's family also questioned the accused's father's claim that this was the first time the teenager had driven the car, saying the claim was difficult to believe.