‘One apology could have comforted us’: Wife of man killed in crash involving judge’s son

Kochi: The wife of Jayabalakrishnan, who was killed after a luxury car allegedly driven by a 17-year-old hit him in Cheranalloor, has said the incident escalated because of the judge’s remarks following the accident.

Speaking to Mathrubhumi, Bindu said the family was devastated not only by the loss of her husband but also by the way they were treated afterwards. She alleged that the judge, who is the father of the teenager accused of causing the accident, behaved arrogantly towards her children and relatives when they were grieving.

“Accidents can happen to anyone at any time, and death can come too. It was the judge’s words, as the father of the 17-year-old, that brought the incident to this stage,” Bindu said.

“He behaved arrogantly towards my children, who had just lost their father. He acted as though we had no right to question him. If he had simply said that it was unfortunate and that he would stand by us, how much comfort that would have given us,” she said.
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‘Police failed to treat the victim’s family fairly’

Bindu alleged that the family received little consideration at the police station and that the police were in a hurry to release the accused teenager on bail even before her husband’s body was cremated.

She claimed that the initial FIR included provisions that made it easier for the accused to obtain bail.

“When my children reached the police station after learning that their father had died, they saw the accused sitting with his feet up on a chair. No one could bear to see that,” she said.

Bindu further alleged that police seized a relative’s mobile phone after the person photographed the accused and deleted the pictures. At the same time, she claimed, the police allowed the teenager to send messages from his phone.

According to Bindu, the police began handling the matter more carefully only after the incident triggered public controversy.

Senior officers, including an Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), later visited the family. She said the ADGP had assured them that the investigation would be conducted fairly.

Bindu also demanded the dismissal of the judge, arguing that he should not continue in service. She said allowing him to remain in office could create difficulties for others in similar situations.

‘Chief Minister and Opposition Leader called to console us’

Bindu said Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan and Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan had called her to offer condolences. She added that Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala had spoken to her children over the phone the previous day, with CPI leader Binoy Viswam facilitating the conversation.

She thanked the media and organisations that had supported the family following the tragedy.
Also read | Kochi Mercedes Benz crash: Not first time 17-year-old son of Kerala judge drove? SIT to probe

‘We worked together for 26 years’

Describing her life with her husband, Bindu said they had travelled together to and from their roadside eatery for nearly 15 years.

She had been unable to accompany him for the past two months because of a leg problem and would visit the eatery only occasionally. In the two days before his death, Jayabalakrishnan had stayed at his ancestral home in Chittoor, something he rarely did because he usually stayed with his family.

Despite having high blood pressure, he continued running the eatery without taking days off, she said. The shop opened at 6 pm and operated until around 12.30 am, with the couple usually leaving at about 1.30 am.

“He had been doing this for 26 years. The eatery was how we made a living, educated our children, met household expenses and repaid our home loan,” Bindu said.

The family has an outstanding debt of around Rs 20 lakh, she added. Her husband never closed the shop for a day because he feared that missing loan repayments would create further problems.

‘We have no other option but to reopen the shop’

Despite the loss, Bindu said she would reopen the eatery with her children after completing the funeral-related ceremonies.