THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The court removed the murder charge imposed against the accused in the case of killing journalist K M Basheer, who was mowed down by IAS officer Sriram Venkitaraman in a drunk driving incident in 2019. The first accused Sriram Venkitaraman and the second accused Wafa Feroz were acquitted from the murder charge. The verdict was pronounced by Thiruvananthapuram Additional District Sessions Court. The verdict in their favor was on the release plea filed by both of them.

The court also stated that only charges of culpable homicide, drunken driving and negligent driving will stand against Sriram. The court also said that only the offense under the Motor Vehicle Act will stand against the second accused Wafa. The trial of the case was shifted from the sessions court to the magistrate's court. The court directed the accused to appear before the magistrate court for trial.

Sriram Venkitaraman filed the discharge plea raising the arguments that he did not drive under the influence of alcohol, the charge of homicide against him does not stand, that he did not know Basheer and therefore the argument that he murdered him does not stand. Wafa also argued in the court that he had not asked Sriram to drive the vehicle fast. However, the prosecution opposed the arguments of both the accused. The prosecution pointed in the court that Sriram Venkitaraman's medical examination was delayed and his statement in the first phase that Wafa drove the vehicle.