The 17-year-old accused in the Cheranalloor fatal crash in Kochi was granted bail again after being produced before the Juvenile Justice Board, despite opposition from the family of the man who died in the collision.
The minor, who is the son of a judicial officer, was allegedly driving a Mercedes-Benz when it collided with a scooter on Cheranalloor Container Road early Sunday morning. The crash killed Jayabalakrishnan, 55, a resident of Manjali.
Police initially took the teenager into custody and released him on station bail by Sunday evening. The decision triggered protests by the victim’s family, local residents and various organisations outside the Cheranalloor police station. The demonstrations led Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala to call for immediate action and assure that the law would take its course, according to the report.
Family members staged a sit-in and said they would not leave until the accused was taken back into custody. During the protest, Jayabalakrishnan’s daughter collapsed and was taken to hospital. As the demonstrations continued into the night, police took the juvenile back into custody and produced him before the Juvenile Justice Board.
Police disclosed that the Mercedes-Benz was travelling at 104 kmph at the time of the incident. Visuals reportedly linked to speeding were also recovered from the accused’s mobile phone, the report said. The juvenile has been booked under Sections 181 and 183 of the Motor Vehicles Act for driving without a licence and overspeeding.
The case has also raised questions about how a minor obtained access to the vehicle and whether the vehicle owner could face separate legal liability. Supreme Court lawyer Subhash Theekadan has filed a complaint with the Cheranalloor police seeking registration of a criminal case against the teenager’s father, who is reportedly the owner of the car.
The complaint invokes Section 199A of the Motor Vehicles Act. The provision provides for possible criminal liability for a parent or vehicle owner in certain cases involving offences committed by minors, with a penalty of up to three years’ imprisonment and a fine of Rs 25,000, according to the report.
The complaint also seeks cancellation of the vehicle’s registration for one year and a ban on issuing a driving or learner’s licence to the juvenile until he turns 25. It calls for an investigation into how the teenager obtained the vehicle, as well as an examination of its ownership and registration details.
Citing a Kerala High Court precedent, Theekadan has sought an independent investigation into the parent’s potential legal liability. He also said he would approach the Registrar General of the Kerala High Court for administrative scrutiny because the juvenile’s father is reportedly a judicial officer.
The next steps in the case will include proceedings before the Juvenile Justice Board and consideration of the complaints seeking action against the vehicle owner. The police investigation will also determine the circumstances of the crash, the source of the vehicle access and the applicability of the provisions cited in the complaints.
