Kerala govt offers job to wife of journo killed in accident involving Sriram IAS

KM Basheer was the Thiruvananthapuram bureau chief of Siraj newspaper. He is survived by his wife Jaseela and two children.

Ten days after the death of KM Basheer, a journalist who was killed when a car driven by IAS officer Sriram Venkitaraman hit his bike on August 3, his wife Jaseela has been promised a job by the Kerala government. The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

Basheer’s wife Jaseela will be offered a job at the Malayalam University in Tirur, Malappuram district, based on her education qualifications. In addition to the job, the state government has decided to give Rs 4 lakh as financial aid to Basheer’s family.

The announcement comes a day after the Kerala High Court refused to stay the bail granted to Sriram, who is under suspension currently, for a second time. The verdict on Tuesday was pronounced after the Kerala government moved a petition seeking to cancel the bail granted to the IAS officer by a lower court.

While criticising the police for handling the case, including collecting evidence in an efficient manner, the court observed that a mere oral testimony that Sriram was under the influence of alcohol was not sufficient. While the police report stated that Sriram was intoxicated at the time of driving, the laboratory tests revealed otherwise.

Read: Cancel Sriram IAS’ bail, he lied to cops, will hamper probe: Kerala govt to HC

On August 3, Sriram was speeding when his car hit Basheer’s two-wheeler, which had halted on the side of the Museum Road in Thiruvananthapuram. Eyewitnesses, who were present at the spot of the accident, said that the IAS officer was in an inebriated state. Sriram’s friend, Wafa Firoz, was also present in the car when the accident place.

The police came under fire for the procedural lapse, including failing to take the blood sample from Sriram in a timely manner. Additionally, Sriram was allowed to remain at KIMS private hospital for almost seven hours, without any police personnel to monitor him.

Read: Amid drama, remanded Kerala IAS officer Sriram shifted to Medical College hospital

Although Sriram showed signs of a concussion, the doctors at the Government Medical College in Thiruvananthapuram said that he is ready to be discharged. He was discharged on Tuesday.

KM Basheer was the Thiruvananthapuram bureau chief of Siraj newspaper. He is survived by Jaseela and his two children.

Also Read:

What happened the night a journalist was mowed down by a car driven by an IAS officer

When icons fall off pedestals: How Kerala reacted to arrest of Sriram IAS