Published Oct 29, 2026 | 10:33 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 29, 2026 | 10:33 AM
CCTV footage of the 17-year-old boy accused in the fatal Cheranalloor accident driving a Mercedes-Benz out of a flat.
Synopsis: The Kerala Motor Vehicles Department has issued a show-cause notice to Additional Sessions Judge Rino Francis, seeking an explanation within seven days on how his 17-year-old son was allowed to drive the Mercedes-Benz involved in the fatal Cheranalloor crash. The Crime Branch probing the crash will question the judge for a second consecutive day on Thursday, while the Kerala High Court is expected to take up the judge’s plea seeking anticipatory bail.
The Kerala Motor Vehicles Department has issued a show-cause notice to Additional Sessions Judge Rino Francis, the father of the accused and the registered owner of the Mercedes-Benz involved in the fatal Cheranalloor crash, seeking an explanation within seven days on how his minor son was allowed to drive the vehicle.
If the response is found unsatisfactory, the department may initiate further action, including suspending the vehicle’s registration.
The crash killed Jayabalakrishnan, a resident of Manjali who ran a roadside eatery, while he was returning home after work. The judge’s 17-year-old son is accused of ramming Jayabalakrishnan’s scooter with his father’s luxury sedan while driving at high speed.
The Crime Branch team investigating the crash will question the judge for a second consecutive day on Thursday, 29 October. He has been directed to appear at around 11 am. The judge was questioned for about three hours on Wednesday.
The judge has also approached the Kerala High Court seeking anticipatory bail. Justice Kauser Edappagath is scheduled to consider the petition on Thursday.
#Keralam: CCTV footage has emerged showing the 17-year-old boy accused in the fatal Cheranalloor accident driving a Mercedes-Benz out of a flat at Companypady in Aluva at 1.36 am on Sunday, amid heavy rain.
The boy’s father, a judge, told investigators that he had messaged his son before going to sleep, saying he would wake up only in the evening. He claimed he was unaware that his son had taken the car out.
However, investigators have reportedly found several inconsistencies in the teenager’s statements.
During questioning, the teenager reportedly claimed that he had taken the car out because he wanted to drive and had learnt how to operate a vehicle by watching YouTube videos. Investigators have questioned this explanation after finding material on his Instagram account suggesting that he had driven vehicles before.
Posts and other content indicating his previous driving experience were deleted shortly after the accident.
The investigation team also found videos recorded on the teenager’s phone while he was driving the Mercedes-Benz, with the footage reportedly showing the vehicle travelling at around 104 kmph.
The car was a 2012-model Mercedes-Benz purchased by the judge in 2022 and reportedly used for official travel, including journeys to court. The judge has also been named as an accused for allegedly allowing his minor son to drive the vehicle.
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) October 27, 2026
On Wednesday, the children of Jayabalakrishnan met Registrar General G Gopakumar at the High Court and submitted a complaint seeking legal action against the judge.
Justice PV Kunhikrishnan, the portfolio judge, has also written to the Chief Justice seeking the judge’s suspension. He said the judge’s conduct had brought disrepute to the judiciary.
A five-member Administrative Committee headed by Chief Justice Soumen Sen has decided to take a call on suspending the judicial officer after receiving the police investigation report. The committee is awaiting the report amid uncertainty over whether Judge Rino Francis had consented to his son driving the car.
Separately, the plea seeking cancellation of the 17-year-old’s bail has been adjourned to Friday.
The petition was heard by the Juvenile Court, which functions within the court complex dealing with cases involving women and children and exercises magistrate-level powers.
(Edited by Dese Gowda with inputs from Sreelakshmi Soman)
