Published Oct 17, 2026 | 8:27 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 17, 2026 | 8:27 PM
Shanimol Osman
Alappuzha police have registered a case against journalist Manish Mahipal and DYFI leader James Samuel over allegedly defamatory statements made against Keralam Deputy Speaker Shanimol Osman in connection with the Nedumbassery Mini Cooper crash case.
Alappuzha South police registered the case on October 16, based on a complaint filed by Osman. The complaint alleged that DYFI Alappuzha district secretary James Samuel and Manish Mahipal, who works with Reporter TV, had defamed the Dy Speaker by linking her to the car crash case.
According to the FIR, Samuel, while addressing a protest march to the District Collectorate on October 15, accused the Dy Speaker of intervening on behalf of the accused, shielding him and attempting to derail the investigation after accepting lakhs of rupees.
Mahipal has been named as accused for allegedly reporting the political leader’s statements.
The case has been registered under Sections 356(2) and 192 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deal with criminal defamation and provocation intended or likely to cause a riot, respectively.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring an impartial investigation into the crash, while cautioning against attempts to use the tragedy to target political leaders.
Describing the incident as “murder,” he criticised “politically motivated” attempts to malign leaders by linking them to the case.
The minister also expressed concern over media reports alleging political interference to protect the accused and urged people not to politicise the tragedy or use it to defame others.
Asked about the case against the journalist and the DYFI leader, Chennithala said he would look into the matter.
The case relates to the accident in the early hours of October 11, when a Mini Cooper allegedly driven at high speed rammed into a scooter carrying three friends near Moozhiyal, close to Suvarnodyanam, in Nedumbassery. The victims — Iyas, a native of Kodagu in Karnataka; Devika, from Wayanad; and Gopika, from Mannarkkad in Palakkad — suffered fatal injuries.
According to the FIR registered by the Nedumbassery Airport police, the collision occurred around 1.45 am when the car hit the scooter from behind, throwing all three riders onto the road. They sustained severe injuries to their heads and bodies.
Suhail Sajeev, who was allegedly driving the car, was handed over to the police by residents and later taken into custody. His blood test reports later confirmed that he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident.
The Angamaly Judicial First Class Magistrate Court-I, on Saturday, October 17, rejected the bail application of Sajeev and his co-accused Ninav, Joel and Ameer.
(Edited by Fayisa CA)
Also Read: ‘Does that mean one is permitted to hit them?’: Court denies bail to Suhail Sajeev, three others
