Kochi police chief transferred amid criticism over Mercedes hit-and-run probe

Kochi City Police Commissioner Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar was transferred following criticism of the police handling of a fatal traffic collision that killed 55-year-old Jayabalakrishnan on October 25. The crash involved a Mercedes-Benz driven by the 17-year-old son of an additional district judge, who was initially released on bail and later re-arrested after public protests.

Keralam Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said the police had failed to apply the correct legal provision for culpable homicide and pledged action against officials responsible. > "The police initially failed to invoke the appropriate legal provision relating to culpable homicide," he told the state Assembly.

Following the minister’s remarks, four police officers—a Circle Inspector, a Station House Officer, a Grade Sub-Inspector and an Assistant Civil Police Officer—were suspended. The investigation was also handed over to the District Crime Branch.

Police searched the judge’s residence and obtained CCTV footage as part of the probe. The judge was named an accused under Section 199A of the Motor Vehicles Act, which holds a juvenile’s guardian or vehicle owner liable for offences committed by a minor. The Kerala High Court granted permission to arraign the judge.

The teenager was first charged under Section 106(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for causing death by negligence, then re-booked under Section 105 for culpable homicide not amounting to murder after protests. A video recovered from the teen’s phone showed the vehicle traveling at approximately 104 km/h.

The case has sparked political tension, with opposition legislators walking out of the Assembly over the handling of the investigation.