Fatal Mercedes Crash in Kochi: Judge’s Son Charged, Judge Granted Anticipatory Bail

On the early morning of October 25, 2026, a Mercedes-Benz registered to an Additional District and Sessions Judge in Irinjalakuda struck the scooter of 55-year-old street-food vendor Jayabalakrishnan in Cheranalloor, killing him instantly. Police identified the driver as the judge’s 17-year-old son, who was arrested at the scene and produced before the Juvenile Justice Board, which granted bail on October 26, 2026. The judge was named as a second accused under Section 199A of the Motor Vehicles Act, which presumes liability for a guardian or vehicle owner when a minor commits a motor-vehicle offence. He applied for anticipatory bail; the Kerala High Court, hearing the petition on October 29, 2026, ordered that he not be arrested pending further orders.

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Section 199A makes a vehicle’s registered owner criminally liable for offences committed by a minor driver. The judge also faces charges under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)—culpable homicide not amounting to murder—while the teenager was initially booked under Section 106 BNS (death caused by negligence) before the charge was upgraded after public protest.

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Justice Kauser Edappagath noted that the judge had already been interrogated for four hours and said, “the applicant being a serving judicial officer… there is no question that he will abscond or evade the process of law.” Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said the government stands with the victim’s family and will pursue legal remedies, while asserting that the judiciary cannot be interfered with directly. Police reported seizure of the judge’s electronic devices, the Mercedes, and a motorbike from his residence.

Kerala minister says govt to challenge judge's anticipatory bail in fatal Mercedes crash case

The victim’s daughter, Bhadrakeerthi, accused the judge’s family of tampering with evidence and of receiving preferential treatment. She alleged that the minor had posted high-speed driving videos and that the father attempted to delete them. The family has demanded the judge’s arrest and suspension and plans to implead themselves in the bail petition. Opposition leaders in the Kerala Assembly raised the case, questioning whether the initial FIR reflected the seriousness of the offence.

"Judge Spent Hours At Crime Scene," Claims Kochi Mercedes Crash Victim's Daughter

Eyewitnesses at the Container Road site reported that the Mercedes struck the scooter from behind at high speed. Police recovered a video from the teenager’s phone showing the car travelling at roughly 104 km/h. After the family’s protests, the teenager was re-arrested and the charge was upgraded to culpable homicide. The victim’s three children staged protests outside the Cheranalloor police station, demanding cancellation of the bail and action against the judge.

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Sources differ on the teenager’s prior driving experience. The judge’s plea claims the son was learning from YouTube videos and had never driven the car before, while social-media checks show multiple high-speed reels posted before the crash. Police have not released the seized video, leaving the exact speed at impact unverified.

"Judge Spent Hours At Crime Scene," Claims Kochi Mercedes Crash Victim's Daughter

The Kerala High Court has scheduled a further hearing on the judge’s anticipatory bail petition for November 5, 2026, allowing the victim’s family to join the proceedings. A special court in Ernakulam will consider a petition to cancel the teenager’s bail on October 31, 2026. The investigation remains with the District Crime Branch, and the state government indicated that additional police personnel may face disciplinary action pending the final report.

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