Kerala Court Orders Redaction of Minor's Name in Kochi Crash Case
- Kerala court orders removal of minor's name from bail cancellation plea.
- Disclosure of minor's identity violates Section 74 of the Juvenile Justice Act.
- The 17-year-old accused was granted bail by the Juvenile Justice Board on October 26.
- The victim, Jayabalakrishnan, died after his scooter was struck by the Mercedes-Benz.
- The minor's father, a District Judge, faces charges under the BNS and Motor Vehicles Act.
A Kerala court directed the state government on Friday, October 30, 2026, to remove the name of a minor accused from its petition seeking the cancellation of bail in the Kochi Mercedes-Benz crash case.
Additional District Judge Smt. Kavitha Gangadharan issued the order after finding that both the state's plea and an impleading petition filed by the victim's wife violated privacy protections.
The disclosure of any name or information that might identify a child in conflict with the law is forbidden under Section 74 of the Juvenile Justice Act.
The court reprimanded both the state and the victim's family for including the minor's identity in their official legal documents.
It further observed that the state's plea was procedurally defective because it was not filed as a criminal appeal under Section 101 of the Juvenile Justice Act.
This legal development occurs alongside other ongoing judicial proceedings in the state, including a stay on the arrest of a judge whose minor son was involved in the same crash.
The state government previously announced plans to file an appeal against the bail granted to the judge in that incident.
In separate matters, a Kerala court denied anticipatory bail on October 26 to Dr. Vinod Mony and Dr. Latha Sasidharan.
These two individuals are listed as the 4th and 5th accused regarding the suicide abetment case involving Nithin Raj, who was a student at a dental college in Kannur.
Dr. Mony is the principal of the college, while Dr. Sasidharan is an associate professor in bio-chemistry.
Sri. Manoj M. is recorded as a special official involved in this case.
Additionally, the court took up the matter of the holdup in repatriating Robert Francis Sahayan, a 71-year-old who ended his own life in the UAE on March 26, 2025.
His niece, Mary Victoria, petitioned the court to return his remains for burial at the St Andrews Church family tomb in Kollam.
On October 22, 2026, the Kerala High Court ordered the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Consulate to arrange for the repatriation.
During a hearing on October 28, 2026, the court criticized the delay in the burial, describing the situation as a sorry state of affairs.
The court directed local police to ensure a dignified burial and authorized the niece to conduct rites at the church, pending its consent.
The burial must occur within four days of the body's arrival, with the Kollam District Medical Officer managing the preservation of remains.
The court ruled that property disputes must be handled separately and scheduled the next hearing for November 26.
The nephew was represented by advocates Gokul R Nair and S Sivachalam.
Hearing scheduled for October 31 following corrections
The court scheduled a hearing for the appeals on Saturday, October 31, 2026. This proceeding will occur only after the required corrections to remove the minor's name from the records are completed.
Details of the Kochi Mercedes-Benz crash
The fatal accident occurred at 2:00 am on Sunday, October 25, 2026, in Cheranalloor. Victim Jayabalakrishnan, a 55-year-old street food vendor, died when his scooter was struck by the vehicle.
The 17-year-old accused is the son of a District Judge. The Juvenile Justice Board in Ernakulam granted the minor bail on Monday, October 26, 2026.
Legal charges against the District Judge
Authorities have charged the District Judge who owns the Mercedes-Benz under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The High Court granted the judge interim protection from arrest on Thursday, October 29, 2026, while considering his anticipatory bail plea.
Judge's defense regarding vehicle usage
The judge claimed that his son had taken the Mercedes vehicle without his knowledge.
He underwent hours of questioning regarding the fatal crash involving his minor son.
Victim family's reaction and allegations
The daughter of the victim stated she was "definitely disappointed" by the High Court order that barred the arrest of the judge. She further alleged that the judge spent several hours at the scene of the crash.
Family members of the victim have filed a separate appeal seeking the cancellation of the bail granted to the juvenile.
Police investigation and officer transfer
A police officer involved in the Mercedes crash investigation was transferred. The officer stated he did not provide any assistance to the family of the minor accused.
Initial state government legal actions
The state government filed its initial plea for bail cancellation on Monday, October 26, 2026.
The court requested case records from the Juvenile Justice Board and issued a notice to the minor on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.
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