Autorickshaw driver’s death: Preliminary inquiry report gives clean chit to MVD officials

Malappuram: A preliminary inquiry by the Transport Commissioner has found no lapse on the part of officials of the Kondotty Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) in connection with the death by suicide of an autorickshaw driver in Kizhissery, Malappuram.

The report, submitted to Transport Minister C.P. John, states that the driver was denied a fitness certificate because he had failed to comply with the MVD’s direction to remove modifications made to his vehicle. According to the report, there was no procedural lapse on the part of the officials.

The report also notes that the applicant did not bring the vehicle to the MVD office even once after his fitness certificate was denied for the first time.

However, the corruption allegations levelled against the officials will be investigated separately and in greater detail, the report said.

Shoukath, a resident of Mundamparamba, died by suicide after posting a message on Facebook alleging that MVD officials had deliberately denied him a fitness certificate because he had approached them directly instead of through an agent and had refused to pay a bribe.

In his note, Shoukath alleged that the same officials had earlier certified on two occasions that the steel modifications made to his vehicle were not illegal. He also claimed that he was sidelined after choosing to approach the officials independently rather than through the alleged agent system.

The preliminary inquiry report, however, has rejected these allegations.

Minister orders further inquiry

Transport Minister C.P. John has responded to the incident, saying the government would not adopt any approach that could harm ordinary workers.

In a Facebook post, the minister said the government would ensure that the matter was examined further and announced that IAS officer T.V. Anupama had been tasked with conducting a detailed inquiry.

The preliminary report’s findings do not rule out further investigation into the corruption allegations, which the authorities have said will be examined separately.