THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: IAS officer Sriram Venkitaraman's suspension has been extended for three more months. It was Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who issued the order to extend Sriram's suspension. Earlier, the IAS officer was suspended for six months after he got involved in the drunk-driving case in which journalist KM Basheer was killed in an accident.

It must be noted that an officials' committee headed by Chief Secretary Tom Jose had recommended the government to reinstate Sriram to service. According to the committee, Sriram cannot be suspended for more than six months as a charge sheet has not been prepared yet by the police. However, this recommendation was rejected by the Chief Minister's office.

The accident took place last year at midnight on August 3, when the car, carrying Sriram and his friend Wafa Firoz, rammed Basheer's bike near Museum junction in Thiruvananthapuram. Following this, the IAS officer was immediately suspended based on the FIR registered by the Museum police.

According to the police, it was Sriram who drove the car when the accident took place. However, Sriram has been denying this and in his letter to the Chief Secretary, he said that the car was driven by his friend Wafa at the time of the accident. Meanwhile, the police said that there is a delay in preparing the charge sheet, as they have not received the forensic report.