Opposition leader in Kerala Assembly Ramesh Chennithala on Sunday urged the State Government to suspend IAS official, Sriram Venkitaraman, for causing the death of the bureau chief of a Malayalam newspaper in Thiruvananthapuram.
The police recorded the arrest of the IAS official at a private hospital here where he was undergoing treatment. The car driven by the IAS official in an inebriated state hit the bike of the journalist killing him on the spot on Saturday early morning.
The Opposition leader alleged that the police sabotaged the case by delaying the blood test of the IAS official to prove that he was driving the car under the influence of alcohol. The private hospital where he is admitted failed to bring out a health bulletin on his health condition. As the time is running out to get the bail, he must be suspended as per the service rules, he added.
Chennithala also urged the Chief Minister to take steps to shift the accused from the private hospital to the Government Medical College here for a detailed medical checkup by a team of Government doctors. Meanwhile, Kerala Union of Working Journalist (KUWJ) leader Suresh Vellimanagalam warned that a dharna will be staged in front of the private hospital demanding the shifting of the accused from there to the Government hospital.
He alleged that the accused in the death case was staying in the hospital to avoid imprisonment. Police also recorded the statement of his model-friend, Wafa Firoze, who was also in the car during the accident. The statement was recorded at Vanchiyoor First Class Magistrate Court. The luxury car owned by the woman was driven by the IAS official.
The 33-year-old IAS officer was appointed as Survey Director by the State Cabinet on Thursday following his completion of a training in London. The victim was identified as 35-year-old KM Basheer, Bureau Chief of Malayalam daily ‘Siraj’. The accident occurred at 0100 hrs on Saturday near Museum Police Station.
Though eye witness say the car was driven by Survey Department Director, Sriram Venkitaraman, the official told the police that the car Ms Wafa Firoze was driving the car. Later, Ms Wafa Firoze, in her statement, said that the car was driven by the IAS official.
The police also examined the CCTV visuals following their contradictory statements.
The IAS official, who also sustained fracture on his hands was also admitted to the private hospital here. According to the locals, the speeding car hit the bike, in which Basheer has been severely wounded leading to his death on the spot.
(UNI)
