Man killed as Mercedes driven by judge’s minor son hits scooter in Keralam

The deceased was identified as Jayabalakrishnan, son of Rangaswamy Chettiyar of South Chittoor.

KOCHI: A Mercedes-Benz driven by a 17-year-old son of an additional sessions judge rammed into a scooter on Container Road near Maraparamb in Cheranelloor here around 2.20am on Sunday, killing a 55-year-old man.The deceased was identified as Jayabalakrishnan, son of Rangaswamy Chettiyar of South Chittoor.He ran a roadside eatery and was reportedly heading home after closing the shop when the accident occurred. Both vehicles were travelling towards Kalamassery, and a preliminary police investigation indicated that the car hit the scooter from behind.An FIR has been registered under Sections 281 and 106(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for rash driving and causing death by negligence.

Police later said Section 105, which deals with culpable homicide not amounting to murder, would be added following allegations that no strong action was being taken in the case.The 17-year-old was released from the police station earlier as the offences initially invoked were bailable. Police sources said a decision on further action, including apprehending him and producing him before the Juvenile Justice Board, would be taken soon.

A senior officer with Cheranelloor police said the minor underwent a medical examination, and the preliminary report indicated that he had not consumed alcohol. A detailed report is awaited. A preliminary investigation indicated that the boy was alone in the car, the officer said.Meanwhile, Jayalakshmi, a relative of the victim, described the accident scene as horrifying. “One of his footwear items was on the road, while the other chappal and helmet were some distance away on the service road.

The damage to the vehicles itself showed the intensity of the collision,” she told reporters.She alleged that the minor’s father told her not to question him when she asked why a minor had been allowed to drive. She said she insisted on meeting the boy’s parents after police personnel told her that his father was a judicial officer.Police have not revealed the minor’s details since Section 74 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act prohibits the disclosure of the identity or any other particulars that may lead to the identification of a child in conflict with the law.Police said the teen claimed that the scooter suddenly swerved to avoid waterlogging and he couldn’t stop on time to avoid the collision. There was heavy rain during the early hours on Sunday.The accident comes close on the heels of another high-profile accident here on Oct 11, when a Mini Cooper car driven by a 19-year-old mowed down a scooter, killing three youths. Suhail (19), who was behind the wheel, was inebriated and the car was driven at an extreme speed.

He is still in remand. Police later found that the accused had consumed liquor from three different bar hotels before the accident.Meanwhile, Youth Congress leader Shajahan P Y lodged a complaint with home minister Ramesh Chennithala, seeking strong action under Section 119A of the Motor Vehicles Act. The provision holds the guardian of a juvenile or the owner of the vehicle guilty of the contravention in such situations and liable to be proceeded against.

However, the guardian or owner will not be liable to punishment if they prove that the offence was committed without their knowledge or that they exercised due diligence to prevent it. The Act also presumes that the juvenile used the vehicle with the consent of the guardian or its owner.