Responding to Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan, Chennithala described the death of Jayabalakrishnan, a roadside food vendor, as deeply tragic. He said investigators should have invoked the more serious charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder from the outset against the 17-year-old accused of driving the Mercedes-Benz involved.
“The initial action taken by the Cheranalloor police was not correct,” the minister told the House. He said the police response was reviewed after his intervention and that the necessary additional charge was subsequently included in the case.
Chennithala said he contacted the Kochi City Police Commissioner and the Director General of Police immediately after learning about the circumstances of the collision. He instructed the DGP to examine the handling of the case, after which senior officers, including the Additional Director General of Police responsible for law and order, intervened.
The minister also questioned the speed with which the teenager secured bail after being produced before the Juvenile Justice Board. He said the decision surprised him and confirmed that police had been directed to seek cancellation of the bail through the appropriate legal process.
His statement came amid growing criticism of the original police response, particularly the initial charges and treatment of the underage driver. Chennithala acknowledged that the failure to apply appropriate provisions at the beginning required accountability, and promised action against personnel found responsible.
“Justice is the same for everyone. There is no distinction between the rich and the poor,” he said, rejecting suggestions that the accused’s family connections should influence the investigation.
Vijayan had raised the issue through a submission in the Assembly, arguing that a fatal collision involving the child of an influential person demanded particularly careful scrutiny. He expressed concern over allegations that the police had afforded the teenager favourable treatment and called for an impartial inquiry.
The Opposition leader also referred to another fatal collision near Nedumbassery involving a Mini Cooper allegedly driven by a young motorist. He urged the government to examine whether the handling of such cases was undermining public confidence in enforcement of traffic laws.
Chennithala said he shared the concern and maintained that the government would not allow the position or influence of anyone connected with the case to affect the legal process. He assured members that the investigation would proceed without favour and that further action would follow the evidence.
(The article ‘Chennithala acknowledges police failures’ appeared first on Free Press Journal.)
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