Families of victims killed in Kochi car crash seek strict action against teen driver

The families of three people killed in the Mini Cooper car crash near Cochin International Airport have demanded strict criminal action against the 19-year-old driver, Suhail Sajeev.Three young salespersons, Devika from Wayanad, Gopika from Palakkad, and Ijaz from Coorg in Karnataka were killed in the early hours of October 11, when a speeding Mini Cooper driven by Suhail rammed into their scooter from behind near the Cochin International Airport in Nedumbassery. The incident occurred around 1.45 am near Athani signal. Gopika’s family, from Palakkad, expressed concern that the accused might use his influence to evade accountability. At a press conference, her father said, “We believe the decision to send someone accused of such a serious crime to a borstal school was intended to sabotage the case. He said, ‘Vappa [father] will take care of it.’ We believe this reflects the influence he has.” The family also alleged that two Kerala ministers were from the accused’s area and might have used their influence.An Aluva magistrate remanded Suhail to 14 days of judicial custody. He and a co-accused were transferred to the Kakkanad Borstal School, a facility for offenders aged 18 to 21. Gopika’s father asked why the accused had been sent to the facility and not a regular prison.He also criticised police for not mentioning alcohol in the initial FIR. “The accused drove at excessive speed while heavily intoxicated, causing a horrific accident that killed three people. Yet, even the fact that he was drunk was not mentioned in the initial FIR. On what grounds is the accused being taken to juvenile detention?” he said.Police have reportedly found that Suhail was under the influence of alcohol and had consumed liquor at multiple bars before the crash. Kerala’s legal drinking age is 23, and authorities have sought accountability from the bars that allegedly served alcohol to people below that age.The FIR was registered under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with culpable homicide not amounting to murder.Gopika’s father also raised questions about the collection of a blood sample after her post-mortem. He alleged that, after the body had been stitched up, the stitches were reopened for the test. “I suspect this may have been done for some reason or to manipulate the evidence,” he said.