Kochi Benz crash: Judge moves High Court for anticipatory bail, to be interrogated today also

Kochi: The Crime Branch team investigating the Cheranalloor accident will on Thursday question the Additional Sessions Judge, the father of the 17-year-old who drove the car, for a second consecutive day. He has been directed to appear for questioning at around 11 am. On Wednesday, he was interrogated for approximately three hours. Meanwhile, the Additional Judge has approached the High Court seeking anticipatory bail. The petition will be considered on Thursday before the bench of Justice Kauser Edappagath.

Police conducted searches at the judge's flat on Tuesday night and Wednesday evening. A luxury motorcycle suspected of being used by the 17-year-old was taken into police custody, alongside several digital devices.

The High Court will decide whether to suspend the Additional Sessions Judge after receiving the police investigation report. The decision was taken by a five-member Administrative Committee chaired by Chief Justice Soumen Sen. The committee is awaiting the investigation report given the lack of clarity surrounding whether the car was taken with the father's permission. On Wednesday, the children of Jayabalakrishnan, who died in the accident, visited the High Court to meet Registrar General G Gopakumar and submitted a complaint demanding legal action against the judicial officer.

The police have also approached the court requesting the cancellation of the 17-year-old's bail. The application highlighted that the accused had driven at high speeds previously for filming social media reels and was traveling at 104 km/h at the time of the accident. The plea for bail cancellation was made on the grounds that custodial interrogation of the accused is required. The hearing on the petition has been postponed to Friday. The matter was heard at the Juvenile Court within the court complex handling cases involving women and children, which holds magistrate status. Jayabalakrishnan's family has also joined the proceedings opposing the bail.

In addition, the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) has served a show-cause notice on the judge, as the registered owner of the car, requiring an explanation within seven days regarding the minor driving the vehicle. If the explanation is deemed unsatisfactory, further action, including the suspension of the vehicle's registration, will follow.

 

‘Son took the car without my knowledge’

The Additional Sessions Judge repeated his earlier stance before the Crime Branch, maintaining that his son took the car out without his knowledge. He had previously stated this at the Cheranalloor police station and shown the police a WhatsApp group message to support his claim. However, this was not formally recorded as a statement at the time. Official procedures commenced once the District Crime Branch took over the case.

According to reports, the judge informed the Crime Branch that he only learnt his son had taken the vehicle after the accident occurred. He added that he did not behave insolently towards Jayabalakrishnan's family at the police station, but merely pointed out that photographing a minor is unlawful.

Meanwhile, during the search conducted at the judge's flat on Wednesday afternoon, police collected CCTV footage showing the 17-year-old leaving with the car. Statements from flat staff were also recorded. Police suspect the minor was using the luxury motorcycle, and are scrutinising the vehicle's registration details. Comprehensive examinations regarding these aspects remain underway. Searches at the flat resumed late Wednesday evening and continued into the night.

Following the death of the scooter rider struck by the car driven by his minor son, the judge, as the vehicle owner, must respond to the Motor Vehicles Department's show-cause notice within seven days. The notice was issued as part of statutory procedures for allowing a minor to drive. Explanations, stating reasons why the car's registration should not be cancelled, may be submitted directly or through a messenger.