“The Judge has never called me,” Kumar told journalists before relinquishing charge to Inspector General R Nishanthini, rejecting suggestions that the father of the 17-year-old accused had contacted him to influence the investigation.
Kumar, an Inspector General-rank officer, said neither the Additional District and Sessions Judge nor anyone associated with the accused had approached him seeking preferential treatment or changes to the charges.
He maintained that investigators had proceeded on the evidence available and that allegations of interference were unfounded.
“Nobody from outside has spoken to me regarding the case,” Kumar said, explaining that he wanted to address the controversy before leaving office because another opportunity might not arise.
The officer also rejected suggestions that his transfer was connected to any improper intervention. He described transfers as an ordinary feature of government service and said he had no regrets about relinquishing his responsibilities.
His clarification followed mounting scrutiny of the police response to the October 25 accident, which killed 55-year-old Jayabalakrishnan, a roadside eatery owner, on Container Road at Cheranalloor.
The victim was riding his scooter home after closing his establishment when a Mercedes-Benz allegedly driven by the judge’s minor son struck the two-wheeler from behind at approximately 2.20 am.
Questions surrounding the initial investigation intensified after the teenager was granted station bail following registration of the case under provisions dealing with rash driving and negligence.
Jayabalakrishnan’s family protested outside Cheranalloor police station, alleging serious shortcomings in the investigation and demanding stronger action against those responsible.
Police subsequently invoked Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, dealing with culpable homicide not amounting to murder, against the juvenile accused.
The teenager was produced before the Juvenile Justice Court and subsequently granted bail. Investigators have also sought cancellation of his bail as proceedings continue.
The controversy prompted administrative action against police personnel attached to Cheranalloor station. Four officers, including the Station House Officer, were suspended over alleged procedural lapses in handling the accident.
Kumar was subsequently transferred from the position of Kochi City Police Commissioner, with Nishanthini appointed to succeed him. She assumed charge on Friday.
The sequence of developments generated questions about supervisory responsibility and whether the initial investigation had been conducted with sufficient urgency and impartiality.
However, Kumar insisted that the investigation had not been shaped by instructions from the judicial officer or any other outside party.
He said he would not have entertained an unlawful request even if one had been made, maintaining that his professional responsibilities required him to act independently.
Police have separately registered a case against the Additional District and Sessions Judge under Section 199A of the Motor Vehicles Act, which provides for liability involving offences committed by juveniles driving motor vehicles.
The judicial officer, who is the registered owner of the Mercedes-Benz, has maintained during questioning that he was unaware his son knew how to drive.
Investigators are examining that explanation alongside other evidence concerning the teenager’s access to the vehicle and whether he had driven previously.
The investigation has also turned towards electronic evidence. Police are preparing to send the teenager’s mobile telephone for forensic examination after finding that information, including material associated with Instagram, had been deleted.
Investigators are seeking to recover the deleted data and examine its relevance to the circumstances surrounding the accident.
Separately, the Juvenile Justice Court questioned the disclosure of the minor accused’s identifying details in applications submitted by the prosecution and the victim’s family.
The court observed that revealing a juvenile’s identity could constitute an offence under the Juvenile Justice Act and directed both sides to submit corrected applications without identifying information.
The matter is scheduled for further consideration on October 31.
The investigation was transferred to the District Crime Branch following criticism of the initial police response. The change placed responsibility for examining the accident and associated evidence with a specialised investigative unit.
Police are also examining the sequence of communications and procedural decisions made immediately after the collision, including the timing of information conveyed to supervisory officers.
Kumar had assumed charge as Kochi City Police Commissioner in January 2026 and left the position before completing a year. His successor, Nishanthini, took charge amid continuing judicial proceedings and scrutiny of the investigation.
(The article ‘Ex-Kochi police chief rejects judicial interference’ appeared first on Free Press Journal.)
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