Cheranalloor accident: Additional district judge, owner of the Benz Car named accused

KOCHI: Additional District Judge Rino Francis Xavier, the registered owner of the Benz Car involved in the Cheranalloor accident, has been named accused in the case. Cheranalloor police had the other day said that registering a case against him would be difficult as he is a judge and that they needed to seek legal advice. However, following widespread protests over the incident, a case was registered against him. Rino Francis Xavier is an additional district judge who also has charge of the motor accident claims tribunal.

The family of Jayabalakrishnan, who died in the accident, and various opposition organizations staged protests outside the police station on Sunday. Following the protests, police took the 17-year-old into custody again and produced him before the Juvenile Justice Board. Although he was charged with culpable homicide, he was granted bail once again. Protests continue over the decision to release the teenager on bail.

Meanwhile, reports have emerged that the Mercedes-Benz was travelling at a dangerous speed of over 104 kmph. The 17-year-old took the car out onto the road around midnight to shoot reels. The police have obtained footage of the teenager driving the Benz at excessive speed. The footage was recovered from his mobile phone. The investigation also revealed that he had regularly driven the vehicle without a licence.

The accident occurred Sunday morning at 3 am on Container Road, near Maraparambu in Cheranalloor, Kochi. Jayabalakrishnan, a motorist from Nelluvellil Puthenparambu House in South Chittoor, died in the accident. He ran a roadside eatery near the Chittoor Temple.