Station bail, deleted photos: Four cops suspended in Cheranalloor case

KOCHI: Four police officers have been suspended for lapses in the investigation into the accident in Cheranalloor in which a street food stall owner died after being hit by a Mercedes-Benz car driven by a 17-year-old. Those suspended are CI K.S. Shyam Kumar, SI Viswajith, Grade SI Manoj K.T. and CPO Arun Joshi. The action follows an ADGP report citing lapses in the handling of the case.

The allegations against the officers include granting station bail to the 17-year-old accused and making eyewitnesses delete photographs of him that they had taken on their mobile phones on the day of the accident. The children of the deceased, Jayabalakrishnan, and local residents had staged a sit-in protest in front of the Cheranalloor police station against the lapses on the part of the police and alleged attempts to sabotage the case.

Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala had admitted in the Legislative Assembly that the police had been at fault and stated that action would be taken against the officers responsible. The suspension of the four officers followed this statement.