Cheranalloor car crash: Kaliraj denies intervening in probe, CM visits victim’s family

Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan visits the family of Jayabalakrishnan at their residence in Chittoor on Friday. | Photo Credit: R.K. Nithin Senior IPS officer Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar, who was recently removed from the post of District Police Chief (Kochi City), has denied interfering in the investigation into the fatal car crash at Cheranalloor. Addressing media here on Friday the officer claimed that his transfer had nothing to do with the case. He met the media even as Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan visited the family of Jayabalakrishnan who was killed in the accident and promised full governmental support to the kin of the victim.Mr. Mahesh Kumar said the reports that the judge of a district court, who is the father of the 17-year-old boy who allegedly drove the luxury car involved in the incident, had called him after the accident were baseless.Mr. Mahesh Kumar was removed from the post on Wednesday, a day after the government suspended four police officers attached to the Cheranalloor police station based on a report submitted by ADGP P. Vijayan.R. Nishanthini took charge as the new District Police Chief (Kochi City) on Friday.‘CM promises support’Mr. Satheesan called on the grieving family at their residence at Chittur. Consoling the family, the chief minister said the government will always stand with them. He interacted with the kin of Jayabalakrishnan, including his wife and three children.Bhadra Keerthy, daughter of the deceased, said the Chief Minister promised government support and urged them to share any future concerns.Mr. Satheesan was accompanied by Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden, Ernakulam MLA T.J. Vinod and Kochi MLA Muhammed Shiyas.Meanwhile, the Additional District and Sessions Court designated to try cases involving atrocities against women and children in Ernakulam has directed Jayabalakrishnan’s family to correct discrepancies in the application challenging the bail granted to the 17-year-old key accused by the Juvenile Justice Board and resubmit it.The court expressed its displeasure over the manner in which the application was prepared, as it contained details that could help identify the child in conflict with the law, when the matter came up for consideration on Friday. The appeal, which has been transferred from the district court as a juvenile is involved in the case, will be considered on Saturday. Published - October 30, 2026 08:42 pm IST