States » SouthPosted at: Oct 27 2026 7:45PM


Kerala HM admits serious police lapses in Cheranalloor crash; action against erring officers

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 27 (UNI) Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala on Tuesday admitted serious police lapses in the Cheranalloor road accident that killed street vendor Jayabalakrishnan, promising stringent action against officers who failed to invoke the appropriate legal provisions in the case.
He also said the government had approached a higher court seeking cancellation of bail granted to the minor accused.
“Whether the accused is a judge’s son or anybody else, everyone is equal before the law,” Chennithala told the Assembly, asserting that the government would not protect anyone responsible for mishandling the case.
The minister said action would be taken against both the person accused of seizing and deleting mobile phone evidence and the police officers who failed to include the relevant charges in the FIR.
Chennithala said he was informed about the accident by MLA T J Vinod on the night it occurred. On examining the case, he found that the FIR had not initially included the appropriate charge of culpable homicide. He immediately contacted the Director General of Police and pointed out the seriousness of the lapse, he said.
Stressing that the government had nothing to hide, the minister said he had no hesitation in acknowledging police failures and would not justify wrongdoing by officers.
Recounting the circumstances of the accident, Chennithala said Jayabalakrishnan was returning home with rice and other provisions for his family at around 2.30 am when a Mercedes-Benz car allegedly hit him, killing him.
The minister said he had directed ADGP P Vijayan to visit the accident site and meet the victim’s family. The officer had subsequently visited the family, he added.
Chennithala said the victim’s relatives had strongly demanded the cancellation of bail granted to the minor accused. He criticised the decision to grant bail even after more serious provisions were subsequently added to the case.
Questioning the circumstances surrounding the bail, he asked, “What is happening in this country?” He said the government had already approached a higher court through legal channels to seek its cancellation.
Responding to the family’s demand for action against the accused minor’s father, a judge who was stated to be the vehicle’s owner, Chennithala said the government could not directly initiate departmental proceedings against a judge in the manner demanded because of constitutional and legal constraints.
However, legal action had been initiated against the judge in his capacity as the vehicle owner, and the High Court Registrar had been formally informed, he said. The minister added that the High Court was expected to examine the matter and take appropriate action within its jurisdiction.
Describing the grant of bail before the victim’s body was handed over to his grieving relatives as particularly distressing, Chennithala assured the Assembly that nobody responsible for the incident or the alleged investigative lapses would be allowed to escape the law.
The issue triggered heated exchanges in the Assembly, with CPI(M) member A C Moideen demanding an urgent discussion. He alleged that ordinary citizens and influential people were treated differently at police stations and argued that the Home Minister’s statement itself exposed the seriousness of the problem.
The incident has intensified demands for accountability in the police investigation and for equal treatment under the law, irrespective of the accused’s family background or social position.
UNI DS
Tags: #Kerala HM admits serious police lapses in Cheranalloor crash; action against erring officers
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