Kochi: The Kerala High Court has stayed further proceedings in the criminal trial against Sriram Venkitaraman, a 2013-batch IAS officer of the Kerala cadre, in connection with the 2019 road accident that resulted in the death of journalist K.M. Basheer.
Justice G. Girish passed the interim order on a petition filed by Basheer’s widow, Jaseela C, challenging the Kerala government’s decision not to appoint a Special Public Prosecutor for the trial. The court has sought the government’s response and posted the matter for October 27, 2026.
Widow Challenges Government Decision on Special Prosecutor
Jaseela’s latest petition challenges a government order dated September 17 rejecting her representation seeking the appointment of a Special Public Prosecutor.
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Her plea contends that the government’s latest position is inconsistent with its earlier submission before the High Court that it had decided in principle to appoint advocate A.I. Santhosh Kumar as the Special Public Prosecutor.
The earlier proceedings resulted in the High Court deferring the trial for a month to enable the government to formally notify the appointment. The court had also directed that Santhosh Kumar conduct the prosecution once the notification was issued.
Trial Began After Six-Year Gap
The trial in the case began in August 2026, nearly six years after the 2019 incident. The case is being heard by the Additional Sessions Court-IV in Thiruvananthapuram after it was transferred from another sessions court.
Basheer, a journalist with Siraj newspaper, died after a car allegedly driven by Venkitaraman struck his motorcycle near Museum Junction in Thiruvananthapuram in the early hours of August 3, 2019.
Venkitaraman is the sole accused in the case and faces charges including culpable homicide not amounting to murder, dangerous and drunk driving and destruction of evidence, according to reports on the proceedings. These remain allegations to be adjudicated in the trial.
High Court to Hear State’s Response
The High Court has now sought the State government’s response to Jaseela’s challenge to the September 17 order. The matter has been posted to October 27, when the court is expected to consider the government’s explanation and the issue surrounding the Special Public Prosecutor.
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