Kerala High Court Halts Arrest of Judge Accused in Fatal Car Accident Involving His Son

Kochi, October 29 (Daily Kiran) : The Kerala High Court issued an order on Thursday to halt the arrest of an additional district judge implicated in a road accident in Cheranellur. The incident, which occurred on October 25, involved a Mercedes-Benz car allegedly driven by the judge’s 17-year-old son, resulting in the death of a scooter rider.

Justice Kausar Edappagath granted interim relief while hearing a plea for anticipatory bail filed by the judge. The judge is stationed at the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal in Irinjalakuda, Thrissur district. The court instructed the police not to arrest the judge until further notice and required him to appear before the investigation officer. It also mandated that any questioning be conducted in accordance with Supreme Court guidelines.

Questioning the necessity of detaining the judge for interrogation, the High Court asked the investigation team why an arrest was needed when he was cooperating with the inquiry. The court remarked, “What was the need for four hours of questioning, and why is further questioning required? Why is his arrest necessary? He is a judicial officer and will assist in the investigation.”

Senior advocate P. Vijaya Bhanu, representing the judge, informed the court that his client had appeared before the police on Wednesday and had undergone more than four hours of questioning. However, the lawyer representing the victim’s legal heirs opposed the anticipatory bail application, alleging that the judge had tampered with evidence after learning about the accident.

The court emphasized that it must proceed according to legal provisions when granting interim relief against arrest. Additionally, the High Court has sought a response from the state government regarding the case.

The accident took place around 2:20 AM on October 25 on Container Road near Kochi. Reports indicate that the Mercedes-Benz, driven by the teenager, struck a scooter, resulting in the immediate death of 55-year-old Jayabalakrishnan. In his plea, the judge claimed he was asleep at home during the incident and was unaware that his car had been taken out. He stated that he learned about the accident when informed by a phone call that his minor son had driven the vehicle without his knowledge.

The FIR filed in this case includes Section 105 of the Indian Penal Code, relating to culpable homicide not amounting to murder, along with provisions from Section 199A of the Motor Vehicles Act. This section pertains to the accountability of parents or vehicle owners for offenses committed by minors. The Juvenile Justice Board granted bail to the accused minor on October 26, but the state government’s petition to cancel this bail is currently pending in the sessions court.