KM Basheer murder case: Witness identifies IAS officer Sriram in court

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: IAS officer Sriram Venkitaraman, the accused in the murder of journalist K.M. Basheer, was identified in court by a witness. The second witness in the case and auto driver Manikandan gave his statement in the Thiruvananthapuram Fourth Additional Sessions Court.

Manikandan had reached the spot after receiving information that a bearded man drove the car at high speed, leading to a crash. It was later that he realised that the bearded man was Sriram. Manikandan also told the court that he heard the woman who was alongside Sriram at the time of the incident telling police that her name was 'Wafa'. The witness clarified that he had not personally seen the car being driven at high speed and that he could not ascertain whether the accused was drunk.

On the morning of August 3, 2019, KM Basheer died after being hit by a car in which Sriram Venkitaraman and his friend Wafa Firoz were travelling. Sriram is the first accused in the case. The accused has been charged with culpable homicide, dangerous driving, drunk driving and destruction of evidence.