The Kerala High Court on Thursday granted anticipatory bail to a judicial officer in connection with a fatal car accident in Kochi involving his minor son. The judge has been made an accused in the case where a Mercedes car, allegedly driven by his 17-year-old son, hit and killed a scooterist at Cheranalloor.

The judge had appeared before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) for a second day of questioning, where he reportedly told investigators he had no knowledge of the vehicle being removed from his apartment premises. He further stated that his visit to the police station immediately after the accident was in his capacity as a parent, not as a judicial officer. This defence was also presented in his anticipatory bail plea, where he maintained he was asleep when his son took the car.

The incident, which occurred in Cheranalloor, Kochi, resulted in the death of 55-year-old Jayabalakrishnan, a scooterist. The judge's 17-year-old son is alleged to have been driving the luxury car at the time of the collision. The judicial officer was questioned for approximately four hours by the investigating team as part of the ongoing inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the accident.

During the proceedings related to the anticipatory bail petition, Justice Kauser Edappagath of the Kerala High Court orally remarked that the court "cannot succumb to public opinion." The court also allowed the family members of the accident victim, Jayabalakrishnan, to be impleaded in the anticipatory bail petition filed by the judicial officer. The High Court has directed the police not to arrest the accused judge until further orders are issued.