The Special investigation Team (SIT) that was formed to probe the death of Kerala journalist SV Pradeep, took the driver of the truck that hit him into custody on Tuesday. The vehicle was also seized. The accident following which Pradeep died took place in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday. The driver, Joy, a resident of Vazhayila in Thiruvananthapuram, was nabbed following an investigation by the SIT. As per officials, he gave a statement that Pradeep was hit by accident. “He said that Pradeep was hit by the side of the truck, but he did not stop the vehicle following the accident anticipating that he might be attacked by people,” the SIT official told TNM.
It was on Monday that Pradeep, a Thiruvananthapuram-based journalism, was hit by an SML truck while passing through a road in Karakkamandapam. He succumbed to his injuries soon after. An SIT was formed to probe his death after allegations were raised from various quarters that the death was suspicious. Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala had demanded that a high-level inquiry should be held into the death. According to police, Pradeep’s mother has also alleged that he had recently received some threats.
“As per the mother’s statement we had registered a case under section 302 (Punishment for murder), but in case there is no evidence to prove the suspicions, the section will be removed. FIR (First Information Report) has not been filed against the driver yet,” said an official of SIT.
In the CCTV visuals of the accident which had surfaced, the truck could be seen overtaking Pradeep’s two-wheeler from behind. After the truck moved past him, Pradeep’s vehicle could be seen lying on the road.
Pradeep, who had previously worked with a few Malayalam TV channels like Media One, Manorama News, Kairali TV, Jaihind, Mangalam and News 18, was presently running an online channel. Pradeep is survived by his wife and two children.