Thiruvananthapuram: A major reshuffle was made in the probe team which is investigating the case charged against IAS officer Sriram Venkitaraman in the death of a journalist named KM Basheer. The investigating officer Thiruvananthapuram city narcotics cell assistant commissioner Sheen Tharayil was replaced. SP A Shanavas is in charge of the case.
Though Sheen Tharayil was replaced, he will continue to be in the probe team. The interim report submitted by the Special Investigation Team before the court has sparked controversy. Following this, the investigating officer in DySP rank was replaced by an official in SP rank. The probe team is headed by ADGP (Law and Order) Shaik Deversh Saheb.
Meanwhile, SIT has demanded the documents including case sheet from Thiruvananthapuram medical college where Sriram Venkitaraman was admitted. Doctors in the casuality of KIMS hospital has reported that Sriram has suffered minor injuries in the accident. In view of this, the probe team decided to seek documents from the medical college.
The probe team planned to prepare a comprehensive investigation report by examining the scan reports, lab reports and prescribed treatments of the IAS officer with the help of expert doctors.
Basheer, Thiruvananthapuram bureau chief of Siraj, was killed after being hit by Sriram Venkitaraman's speeding car. The IAS officer was returning from a late-night party with his friend Waha Firoz, who owns the car.