Kochi: Kochi City Police Commissioner Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar was transferred on Wednesday following alleged lapses in the investigation into a Mercedes-Benz car crash in Kochi that claimed the life of a 55-year-old scooter rider. R Nishanthini, a 2008-batch IPS officer, has been appointed as the new city police commissioner.
The transfer comes a day after four police officers, including a circle inspector attached to the Cheranalloor police station, were suspended over their handling of the case.
The accident occurred on October 25, when a 17-year-old boy allegedly rammed his Mercedes-Benz car into a scooter, killing its 55-year-old rider.
On Tuesday, ADGP (Law and Order) P Vijayan visited the accident site and met the victim’s family in Kochi. He subsequently submitted a report to the Home Department, pointing out lapses in the police investigation during its initial stages.
According to the findings, Mahesh Kumar failed to intervene effectively in the probe and ensure stringent action against the accused.
The issue was also raised in the Assembly on Tuesday, where Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said the police had committed a “grave error” by failing to invoke stringent charges against the minor accused in the crash case.