THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Palode KSRTC depot driver was found not guilty in the incident of being suspended from duty on the charges of being drunk. Driver Jayaprakash (52), who came to work on Friday morning, was suspended from duty after he was found to be drunk in a breathalyzer test. It was found that Jayaprakash was not drunk during an examination conducted by the KSRTC medical officer after the incident became controversial.

Jayaprakash, a native of Pachamala, is a driver on the Palode-Perayam route. He was tested using a breathalyzer when he came to drive the bus in the morning. He was removed from duty after the machine showed a reading of 16. Jayaprakash later informed the authorities that he had never drunk alcohol in his life and that the machine had been malfunctioning for the past two weeks.

Jayaprakash requested to be given another chance, but when the station master did not allow it, he went to the KSRTC stand with his family and started a fast. Jayaprakash said that the breathalyzer machine was broken and demanded permission to conduct a medical test. He also filed a complaint at the Palode police station regarding the incident. The KSRTC medical officer examined Jayaprakash following this. He gave the doctors information including the medicines he was taking. The KSRTC concluded that Jayaprakash was not drunk taking the test results of these medicines into consideration. Jayaprakash can rejoin work from tomorrow. A similar situation had occurred at the Kozhikode depot a few weeks ago.