Judge's 17-year-old son runs over 55-year-old man in Kochi; teen taken into custody again after station bail

KOCHI: An early-morning joyride in a Mercedes-Benz by a judge's 17-year-old son ended the life of a 55-year-old man, leaving his family without its sole breadwinner. The incident comes even as the shock over the recent Nedumbassery accident, in which a wealthy teenager allegedly killed three people from poor families while driving a luxury car under the influence of alcohol, is yet to fade.

The victim was Jayabalakrishnan (55), a resident of Nelluvelil in South Chittoor. He ran a roadside eatery near the Chittoor temple. The accident occurred around 3 am on Sunday on the Container Road at Marapparambu in Cheranalloor.

The 17-year-old Plus Two student is the son of an Additional District Judge, who also holds charge of the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal. According to the police, the teenager allegedly rammed the car into Jayabalakrishnan's scooter from behind.

The Cheranalloor police initially took the teenager into custody on the charge of causing death by negligent driving but released him on station bail in the evening. Following the controversy over his release, the police took him into custody again late at night. He will be produced before the Juvenile Justice Board. Reports said a case of culpable homicide had also been registered.

The police will also register a case against the judge, who owns the car, for allowing his minor son to drive it.

Jayabalakrishnan had returned home to South Chittoor with his son after closing his eatery for the night. He had taken a bath and changed clothes before setting out for his new house at Manjaly when the accident occurred. He fell on the road and suffered a head injury, dying on the spot. The car continued for around 100 metres before coming to a halt. The teenager did not get out of the vehicle. Police who reached the spot after receiving information took him into custody.

The victim's wallet and money, which had fallen on the road, were allegedly stolen. His body was cremated at the Pachalam crematorium. He is survived by his wife, Bindu, and children Bharat Shankar, Bhadra Keerthi and Bhagya Darshan.

‘Took the car because I wanted to drive’

The 17-year-old reportedly told the police that he took the car because he wanted to drive it. He said he waited until his parents had gone to sleep before taking the vehicle alone from their flat in Aluva.

He also told the police that he lost control of the car while trying to avoid a waterlogged stretch amid heavy rain. Although he was not under the influence of alcohol, the police will check whether he had consumed any other intoxicating substances. The judge had initially told the police that his son did not know how to drive.

‘Don't try to question us’

Jayalakshmi, the victim's niece, alleged that the judge responded, “Don't try to question us,” when questioned about allowing his unlicensed son to drive the car.

She further alleged that the police changed their attitude after learning that the accused's father was a judge. The family was told not to speak emotionally, she claimed. The relatives also alleged that the police made them delete a photograph of the accused from a mobile phone. The family demanded that the parents be booked for culpable homicide for allowing their minor son to drive the vehicle.