Journalist Basheer death: Driving licence of Sriram IAS suspended for a year

This comes two weeks after the alleged drunk driving accident that had resulted in the death of Kerala journalist KM Basheer.
Journalist Basheer death: Driving licence of Sriram IAS suspended for a year
Journalist Basheer death: Driving licence of Sriram IAS suspended for a year
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The Kerala Motor Vehicle’s Department (MVD) on Monday suspended the driving license of IAS officer Sriram Venkitaraman, two weeks after the alleged drunk driving accident that resulted in the death of Kerala journalist KM Basheer. Sriram was allegedly drunk when his car rammed into Basheer’s bike.

Sriram’s license has been suspended for a period of one year under Section 21 of the Central Motor Vehicles Act.

The state department had faced criticism for not cancelling the driving license and this came at a time when the state police force, as well as the doctors at the private hospital where Sriram was treated, have been accused of trying to protect IAS officer, who was placed under suspension following the accident. There were demands that the driving license of Wafa Firoz, who was Sriram’s co-passenger when the accident took place, also be suspended.

Speaking to TNM, Rajeev Puthalath, the Joint Transport Commissioner of Kerala, had stated that the department is following the law. “According to the law, we have to submit a notice to the accused persons and give them a period of 15 days to come up with an explanation, failing which their license will be cancelled,” explained Rajeev.

According to the Transport Commissioner, although not directly, both the accused in the case were notified by the MVD about the 15-day period within which they must provide an explanation. “The deadline of 15 days concluded on Sunday and since they have not given any explanation, the MVD will move ahead with measures to cancel their driving license,” Rajeev said.

Medical officers’ association protest police report

Meanwhile, the Kerala Government Medical Officers’ Association (KGMOA) has lashed out at the police report which criticised the General Hospital doctor for not collecting the blood samples of the IAS officer immediately after the accident. 

According to the KGMOA, the police in their report have blamed Dr Rakesh Kumar of the Thiruvananthapuram General Hospital for the alleged delay in collecting the blood sample.

Responding to this, OS Shyam Sundar, the President’s nominee of the KGMOA told Manorama News that the police are trying to hide their lapses by putting the blame on the doctor. “The General Hospital doctor has done everything that he was legally bound to do. And as far as the medical samples are concerned, the hospital needs a written request from the police, which was not given,” he said. 

The KGMOA has stated that they will submit a complaint to the Chief Minister of Kerala as well as to the Director-General of Police (DGP) regarding the report prepared by the police.

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