Kerala judge booked under Motor Vehicles Act after 17-year-old son’s Mercedes kills scooterist in Kochi

Kochi: Kochi City Police on Monday booked a serving Additional District and Sessions Judge, the registered owner of a Mercedes-Benz that his 17-year-old son allegedly drove into a scooter in Cheranalloor, killing the rider, amid public protests and political pressure over the handling of the case.

The judge serves at the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal in Irinjalakuda. Police invoked Section 199A of the Motor Vehicles Act, which fixes liability on a vehicle’s owner or guardian when a juvenile commits an offence using the vehicle, and a report has been submitted to the court. Police registered the case after obtaining the Kerala High Court’s permission. Onmanorama, however, reported that the formal procedures, including the permission, were still under way when the Commissioner spoke. Kochi City Police Commissioner S Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar said police were following the prescribed procedure for acting against a serving judicial officer.

The crash happened around 2.20 am on Sunday on Container Road near Maraparambu in Cheranalloor. Jayabalakrishnan, 55, who ran a wayside eatery at Chittur, was returning home after shutting shop when the speeding Mercedes rammed his scooter from behind, killing him on the spot. The Commissioner said preliminary evidence indicated the car was travelling at more than 100 kmph. Police said investigators recovered footage from the teenager’s mobile phone showing the car at high speed shortly before the crash, and that he had taken the car out late at night to shoot a social media reel. Police said he was a regular driver of the car and had no driving licence.

The initial police action drew sharp criticism. Cheranalloor police first booked the minor under BNS Sections 281 and 106(1), covering rash driving and death by negligence, and granted him station bail under the Juvenile Justice Act. The release led to a sit-in outside the police station by the victim’s family, residents and youth political organisations on Sunday night, and CPM workers marched to the station on Monday demanding action against the judge. Police then added Section 105 of the BNS, culpable homicide not amounting to murder, and apprehended the minor again. The Juvenile Justice Board in Ernakulam later granted him bail, citing the absence of prior criminal antecedents.

Police will move the Ernakulam District Sessions Court to seek cancellation of the teenager’s bail. Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala had directed urgent action after the first release caused outrage. ADGP (Law and Order) P Vijayan has sought an explanation from the Commissioner over alleged lapses and asked for a report on the administrative and investigative shortcomings. The case has been transferred from local police to the District Crime Branch. The Kerala High Court has examined the case details and sought a report on the judge’s role.

The victim’s relatives alleged that the judge came to the police station after the accident and responded disrespectfully when asked why his underage son had been allowed to drive. They also alleged that police removed the car from the scene to destroy evidence. These allegations have not been independently verified.