THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: On his Facebook page, Power Minister M M Mani has slammed IAS officer Sriram Venkataraman, whose reckless and drunk driving resulted in the death of a journalist here on Saturday.

Facebook post translation:

“Young and smart Thiruvananthapuram bureau chief of Siraj daily K M Basheer died after a car that swished past the road, flouting all rules, rammed the journalist.

From news reports, what I gather is after the incident, The IAS officer tried to shift the blame of the crime to a woman who was travelling with him. I’m feeling ashamed when considering the fact such acts were done by an IAS officer.

The road rules breached by the officer while driving the vehicle will be probed promptly and he will be brought before the law. In this case, the consideration that he is an IAS officer will never be given. That will be the government’s approach, as well.” he wrote on his Facebook page.