Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Police has likely put itself in a quandary over the probe into the accident case involving Kerala bureaucrat Sriram Venkitaraman, IAS. Even days after his car mowed down journalist K M Basheer in the heart of this capital city, several questions remain unanswered over the incident. The cops are struggling to come up with answers as glaring lapses and inefficient handling of the sensational case are being pointed out by several quarters.
A series of missteps by cops indicate they were obviously lax in carrying out crucial procedures in an accident that claimed one life on a city road a few nights ago.
The accident happened around 12:55am on Saturday. However, the FIR was filed only at 7:17am and that too by omitting the name of the car driver. Even as the cops claimed that though the CCTV cameras had captured the images of the car, it cannot be confirmed as to who was driving. The police also claimed that the speed at which Sriram was driving the car was not recorded anywhere.
Location check
Strangely, the cops are yet to collect information on where Sriram got drunk and who were all with him that night. Sriram had stayed at the Civil Service Officers' Institute at Kowdiar in Thiruvananthapuram for three days prior to the accident. The CCTV camera had captured his exit from the building at 12am, a little before the accident. However, the police have not checked the room or tried to find out if liquor bottles were in his room. Senior officers said that his room has been sealed.
The cops can also ascertain the places Sriram had been that night by checking the mobile tower location. But neither his phone has been seized nor the mobile tower locations ascertained. The cops’ line of inquiry makes it look like these data are not relevant for the investigation.
Sriram had visited the Millennium Apartment where IAS officers are put up before finding proper accommodation, sources said. He then returned to his room before heading out again.
A check on who all Sriram contacted after the accident was also not done.
Companion's background
Wafa, the bureaucrat's woman friend who was with him at the time of the accident, had given a confidential statement that Sriram asked her to pick him up after she sent a goodnight message. To confirm this, all the police need to do is seize his phone and examine it at its cybercell, but this has not been done.
Interestingly, Wafa's background check too has not been done. The police stance is that it was not necessary at the moment.
Though the police informed that they received parts of a mobile phone and SIM card likely used by the accident victim, Basheer, they have not been sent for examination even three days after they were reportedly found.
Biological tests
Moreover, Sriram' blood sample was not taken at the government general hospital itself, where he was first admitted to soon after the crash in which he too was injured. It has been pointed out as a lapse on the part of the station officer concerned.
The cops also did not check if any pill to mask alcohol presence in the blood was given to Sriram at the private hospital as it was alleged he was drunk.
After medical examination at the general hospital, Sriram was referred to the Medical College Hospital. However, the police fumbled again as Sriram was allowed to go to the private hospital with a friend.
The cops who went to the private hospital for taking his finger prints were sent back as his one hand was plastered and the other was on drips. However, during this time, Sriram had signed a petition for his advocate!
Crime scene
It is not known under whose instructions the vehicle involved in the crash was quickly moved from the site. Why was the vehicle moved even before the police photographer and the forensic experts examined the site?
The police did not enquire if Sriram, who is a qualified doctor too, tried to destroy any evidence with his professional knowledge in this field.
Spotlight on car windows
As the car involved in the accident had its windows masked, the transport secretary has now asked the Motor Vehicles Department to take strict action against those who have fitted black film on car windows or hang curtains therein.
The Kerala High Court had banned the use of black films on cars much earlier. A petition related to this was recently considered by the High Court. The court had also directed the transport department to submit information on the action taken so far, and the cases registered.
Civil servants hold fort
The Civil Service Officers' Institute at Kowdiar was renovated by the Kerala government after shelling out lakhs of rupees. Though the government asked it to be returned, the IAS officers have refused to concede to the demand made several times.
When E P Jayarajan became a minister, it was decided that this building would be converted to the official residence. However, as the officers refused to vacate, the minister had to look for rented accommodation elsewhere. The government seems to be hesitant to reclaim its own building!
