K M Basheer accident case: Setback for Sriram Venkitaraman, Wafa released from case

KOCHI: A setback for Sriram Venkitaraman in the case of killing journalist K M Basheer, by the car in which the IAS officer was travelling. The charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder against Sriram will remain, informed the high court. The order was passed by Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas. The high court accepted government’s revision plea. Journo Basheer died on August 3 in 2019 early morning after rammed by the car in which Sriram and his friend Wafa Firoz were travelling. Justice Bechu said Wafa has been released from the case.

Sriram’s argument was that the murder charge against him would not stand. He had informed the court that the scientific examination of the charge sheet submitted by the investigation team had found no trace of alcohol in his body and therefore the case against him would not stand. Sriram claimed that this was only a case under the Motor Vehicle Department and this is what that has now been backfired.

The government had requested the high court not to drop the charge of culpable homicide against Sriram. The action was on the plea filed against the accused questioning dropping of the charge. The court rejected the release plea filed by the accused but dropped the homicide case. The government filed an appeal challenging the order of the Thiruvananthapuram First Class Additional Magistrate Court.