Car crash involving Keralam judge’s minor son: ADGP visits police station to probe alleged lapses in case handling

Forensic officials collecting evidence from the car involved in the fatal accident at Cheranalloor in Kochi on Sunday (October 25, 2026) in which a 55-year-old scooter rider was killed. | Photo Credit: THULASI KAKKAT Even as the deadline set by the family of Jayabalakrishnan, the 55-year-old who was fatally knocked down by a luxury car allegedly driven by the 17-year-old son of an additional judge, for initiating action against the father-son duo is set to expire at 4 p.m. on Tuesday (October 27, 2026), ADGP P. Vijayan arrived at the Cheranalloor police station in Kochi in the morning to look into the alleged lapses on the part of the police in handling the case.Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala had directed the ADGP to visit the police station and examine the alleged lapses. The Minister has admitted in the Assembly that the police erred in the case.Asked about the alleged failures on the part of the police, Mr. Vijayan drew attention to the Minister’s statement. He, however, said the public perception that the involvement of a judge may influence the case was misplaced. “Whether judge or police, the law will take its course,” he told the media on his arrival at the station.A meeting attended by senior officers of the Kochi city police, including S. Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar, District Police Chief (Kochi City), was underway at the station. Mr. Kumar, however, declined to respond to queries about the reported visit of the judge to the station. Mr. Vijayan was also set to meet the victim’s family members.The police have also approached the court to get the teenager’s bail revoked. He was granted bail by the Ernakulam Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) in the early hours of Monday. The boy has, meanwhile, deleted his social media account.On Monday (October 26, 2026), the victim’s daughter and son called off their hours-long sit-in protest in front of the police station only after Mr. Chennithala assured them of action. They gave him until 4 p.m. on Tuesday to act on their demands, which included the arrest of the father-son duo and the suspension of the judge from service. The Cheranalloor police had come in for much criticism for allegedly being rude to the victim’s family and attempting to hush up the matter.The Kochi City police arraigned the judge as an accused on Monday following intense pressure from the family, the media and political outfits. He was booked under Section 199A of the Motor Vehicles Act, which stipulates that where an offence has been committed by a juvenile, the juvenile’s guardian or the owner of the motor vehicle shall be deemed guilty of the contravention and liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly. The judge was the registered owner of the car involved in the accident.The police have also initiated steps in compliance with the Supreme Court guidelines applicable when a judge is booked. These include intimating the district judiciary and the High Court. The police have reportedly sought information from the judge at his apartment.Jayabalakrishnan, a native of Chittur in Cheranalloor, was allegedly mowed down by the speeding car near a car showroom at Maraparambu on Container Road in Cheranalloor while returning after closing his eatery. According to the FIR, the boy was travelling alone in the car from Vallarpadam towards Kalamassery when it hit the scooter, which was moving in the same direction.The boy was initially released on bail from the police station under Section 8 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. A case was registered against the minor driver under Sections 281 and 106(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), dealing with rash driving and causing death by a rash or negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide. Later in the day, the police added Section 105.CM speaks to kinMeanwhile, Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan spoke to the victim’s daughter over phone. In a Facebook post, he said that he assured her that the family would be provided with all necessary legal assistance. “The government will stand firmly with the family. I also assured her that strict action will be taken without any compromise, irrespective of who the accused are,” he said. Published - October 27, 2026 11:56 am IST