No anticipatory bail for Shajeel in Vadakara hit and run case that left girl in coma

Kozhikode: The Kozhikode Principal Sessions Court has denied anticipatory bail to Shajeel, the accused in a case where a nine-year-old girl fell into a coma following a vehicle collision in Vadakara. The court rejected the plea filed by Shajeel, who is currently abroad, after accepting all arguments presented by the prosecution.

The investigation team is set to initiate steps to bring the accused back to the country and arrest him.

Shajeel is accused in the incident that resulted in the death of 62-year-old Puthalath Baby, a resident near the Panniyannur Panchayat office in Thalassery, and critically injured her nine-year-old granddaughter, Drishana, leaving her in a coma.

The accident occurred on the night of February 17 near Chorode Amritanandamayi Math Stop in Vadakara. At around 9 pm, as Baby and her granddaughter were crossing the road after alighting from a bus to visit a relative’s house in Chorode, a white car hit them and fled without stopping.

Baby was declared dead on arrival at the hospital, while Drishana was admitted to Kozhikode Medical College Hospital in an unconscious state. Drishana is the daughter of Sudheer and Smitha from Vadakkan Kovil in Mele Chovva, Kannur.

Although the police examined nearby CCTV footage immediately after the incident, they were initially unable to gather any evidence, causing the investigation to stall. Relatives of the victims later filed complaints, including one with the Chief Minister, which prompted a more vigorous investigation.

Subsequently, the car involved in the incident was identified. A Maruti Swift car travelling towards Thalassery on the day of the accident was recognised as the vehicle in question. The driver, Shajeel, a native of Puranmeri, had fled abroad following the accident. Investigations revealed that the car had been driven negligently, leading to the fatal accident. After fleeing, Shajeel reportedly altered the car’s appearance to evade detection.

The breakthrough came when a vehicle resembling the white Swift captured in the CCTV footage was flagged during an insurance claim. Further investigation confirmed it was the car involved in the accident.