New Case Filed Against Judge for Evidence Tampering in Kerala Accident

Evidence Tampering Allegations Against Judge

In Kerala, authorities have initiated a new case against an additional district judge of the motor accident claims tribunal for allegedly attempting to destroy evidence. This follows an incident last month where the judge's 17-year-old son collided with a scooter, resulting in the immediate death of the rider.

According to police reports, the family of the deceased, Jayabalakrishnan, filed a fresh complaint on Sunday, claiming that the judge spent considerable time at the accident scene with the intent to eliminate evidence. The complaint further alleges that the judge pressured a police officer at the Cheranalloor police station to delete a photograph taken by a family member of the victim that featured his son.

Police Commissioner R. Nishanthani of Kochi confirmed the receipt of the complaint and assured the victim's family of a fair investigation, stating that a First Information Report (FIR) has been registered under the relevant sections concerning evidence tampering.

The tragic accident occurred around 2:30 AM on October 25 near Cheranalloor, when a Mercedes car driven by the minor struck a street vendor's scooter, leading to the vendor's death at the scene. The vehicle involved is a 2012 model, which the judge reportedly used for official purposes. Following the incident, the minor was taken into custody but was later granted bail by the Juvenile Justice Board.

Meanwhile, the Kerala High Court has granted the judge interim protection from arrest. In court, the judge claimed he was asleep at the time of the incident and was unaware that his son had taken the car without permission. Conversely, the victim's family expressed disappointment over this decision, calling for impartial justice. Currently, a special team from the Ernakulam district crime branch is conducting a thorough investigation, and the police have filed a petition to revoke the minor's bail.