Thiruvananthapuram, Keralam Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala on Tuesday strongly criticised the JJB for granting bail to the minor accused, son of a judge, in the fatal Cheranalloor Mercedes-Benz crash before the victim’s body was laid to rest.
“There is nothing for the government to hide in the Cheranalloor incident. Replying to an adjournment motion moved by CPI MLA A C Moideen on various issues, including the death of a 53-year-old man after a Mercedes-Benz allegedly driven by a minor hit his scooter near Kochi on October 25, Chennithala admitted lapses on the part of the police and said the government would take strong action against those responsible.
The minister said that when the police sought to produce the accused before the magistrate on the night of the incident, the magistrate had reportedly asked them to bring him the next day. Admitting police lapses, Chennithala said local MLA T J Vinod had informed him about the incident over the phone. We have taken strong action,” he said, adding that the government had no obligation to blindly defend the police when they made mistakes.
Chennithala also questioned the conduct of the judge who owned the car, saying that the law should apply equally to everyone, irrespective of their position or family background. “Whether the accused is the son of a judge or anyone else, what difference does it make? It was a road accident. Is the law not the same for everyone,” he asked.
With the protection of this House, it is my opinion that the Juvenile Justice Board should not have granted bail under any circumstances,” he said.
“I strongly condemn the decision to grant bail to the accused before the victim’s body was even laid to rest.
