Commissioner Replaced Amid Mounting Criticism

Kochi City Police Commissioner Kaliraj Mahesh has been removed from his post following widespread public outrage and intense criticism over alleged police lapses in handling a fatal road accident case. Senior police official R Nishanthini has been appointed to take over the command as investigators face mounting pressure to ensure accountability.

The controversy erupted after a 17-year-old minor—the son of an additional district judge—reportedly drove a Mercedes-Benz at high speed, ramming into a scooter and killing 55-year-old street food vendor Jayabalakrishnan. The incident has drawn sharp parallels to similar high-profile juvenile driving cases, notably the May 2024 Pune Porsche crash, reviving national debates regarding juvenile justice and systemic privilege.

Investigation and Cover-Up Allegations

According to preliminary police findings, the teenager took the luxury vehicle out late at night specifically to record a high-speed driving video for social media reels. Investigators revealed that the judge allegedly attempted to sabotage the probe by deleting the incriminating footage from his son's mobile phone.

Despite these efforts, cyber forensics successfully recovered video evidence demonstrating the vehicle traveling at dangerous speeds moments before the collision. The sheer force of the impact completely obliterated the victim's scooter, while the 2012 turbo diesel Mercedes sustained heavy structural damage, remaining impounded at a local police station.

Escalating Legal Action and Political Fallout

Following initial allegations by the victim's family regarding an institutional conspiracy to shield the accused minor, the case drew severe political scrutiny. Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala addressed the state assembly, assuring the public that strict action would be taken against any officials found culpable in subverting justice. Consequently, four additional police personnel were suspended after a senior officer reviewed station logs and interviewed the grieving family.

Public protests intensified after the teenager was initially released on station bail under lenient charges of rash driving and causing death by negligence. In response to the public outcry, the legal framework of the case was significantly strengthened. The minor's father, who legally owned the vehicle, has formally been named an accused party, prompting a late-night raid by a specialized police team on the judge's residential flat.

The victim's family has since approached the High Court seeking judicial monitoring, and the formal investigation has been transferred to the state's Crime Branch to ensure an impartial probe.