Full Breakdown
Kerala Judge’s Minor Son Charged After Fatal Mercedes Hit-and-Run
By Drooid · · How we work
The Fatal Collision
In the early hours of Sunday, a Mercedes-Benz registered to an additional district sessions judge was driven by his 17-year-old son on Container Road in Cheranalloor, Kochi. The vehicle struck a scooter from behind, killing 55-year-old Jayabalakrishnan, a roadside-eatery owner returning home after closing his shop. Police recorded the incident under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Background & Context
Because the car is registered to the judge, the case falls under Section 199A of the Motor Vehicles Act, which allows prosecution of an owner or guardian when a juvenile commits a traffic offence. The minor had no valid licence.
Timeline of Key Developments
- Accident (early Sunday) – Mercedes hits scooter; Jayabalakrishnan dies on site.
- FIR – Police file under Sections 281 (rash driving) and 106(1) (causing death by negligence).
- Initial bail – The teenager is released from the police station that evening.
- Protests – Victim’s relatives gather outside Cheranalloor police station, demanding custody.
- Section 105 added – Police invoke Section 105 of the BNS (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and take the minor into custody.
- JJB appearance – The boy appears before the Juvenile Justice Board the next morning; bail is granted again.
- Legal move – A lawyer files a complaint seeking registration of a criminal case against the judge under Section 199A and a one-year cancellation of the vehicle’s registration.
Data & Statistics
- Speed recorded by police: 104 kmph.
- Legal provisions invoked: Sections 281, 106(1), 105 of the BNS; Sections 181 and 183 of the Motor Vehicles Act.
- The minor was released on bail twice.
- The victim’s family said the teenager’s Instagram, previously public with over 2,500 followers, showed reels of him driving the Mercedes at speeds up to 200 kmph; the account was made private after the crash.
Official Statements & Responses
- “The accused’s medical examination is complete. His blood samples have been collected and will be sent for testing. Prima facie, he was not intoxicated at the time of the accident. He was alone in the car at the time,” — Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar, city police commissioner.
- Police said a decision on charging the judge will follow legal consultation.
Criticism & Opposition
- Bhadrakeerthi, the victim’s daughter, accused the judge of obstructing the investigation and called his behavior “rude and arrogant.” She claimed the father tried to protect his son and that the minor had previously driven at high speed, citing Instagram reels as evidence.
- The family alleged police pressured a relative to delete photographs of the Mercedes and that the FIR omitted key details, suggesting a possible cover-up.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Victim’s age: Most sources list him as 55, one outlet says 54.
- Speed evidence: Police cite a video showing the car exceeding 100 kmph; the family points to Instagram reels indicating speeds up to 200 kmph. Neither claim has independent verification.
- Alcohol involvement: Preliminary findings suggest the driver was not intoxicated, but final toxicology results are pending.
What’s Next
Police will seek a legal opinion on charging the judge under Section 199A “later this week.” The Juvenile Justice Board may revisit the bail order if new evidence emerges, and the lawyer’s complaint could trigger an independent investigation into the judge’s liability.