Introduction

KOCHI: Tensions have escalated in Kerala following a fatal car crash involving a luxury Mercedes-Benz driven by the 17-year-old son of a serving judge. The incident, which claimed the life of a 30-year veteran street food vendor in Kochi, has triggered widespread public outrage and serious allegations of a high-level cover-up, tampering with digital evidence, and preferential treatment by law enforcement.

Kerala Police have since bolstered the First Information Report (FIR), incorporating stringent legal provisions including Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for culpable homicide not amounting to murder. However, the grieving family of the victim maintains that systemic efforts are underway to shield the minor and protect influential figures connected to the case.

Disputed Claims Over Driving Experience

Immediately following the Sunday morning collision, the teenager claimed during initial questioning that he had taken the high-end vehicle out for the "first time" and taught himself to drive by watching instructional videos on YouTube.

However, independent digital forensics and police intelligence quickly contradicted this narrative. Investigators discovered a public Instagram profile belonging to the minor, boasting over 2,500 followers, which regularly featured high-speed driving reels. According to sources familiar with the inquiry, several clips depicted the teenager clocking speeds of up to 200 kmph in the identical Mercedes-Benz sedan.

Within hours of the crash, which occurred around 2:20 AM, the account's entire content library was purged, and the profile privacy was switched to private—actions that the victim's relatives argue constitute deliberate destruction of digital evidence.

Eyewitness Accounts and Allegations of Fleeing Passengers

Police logs indicate that the luxury sedan was traveling at approximately 104 kmph at the moment of impact. The victim, who served as the sole breadwinner for his household, was returning home along his customary route after completing a shift at his food stall, which he operated for three decades to support his family and fund his children's education.

According to the victim's children, crucial eyewitness testimony points to multiple occupants fleeing the scene immediately after the crash.

"One eyewitness was there, but he is afraid of the judge and the police, so he is not coming forward publicly," a family member stated. "He secretly told us that there were four people in the car. After the collision, three ran away, and a Fortuner arrived at the scene."

The family has sharply criticized the swift granting of bail to the minor—initially at the local police station shortly after the judge arrived within 45 minutes of the accident, and subsequently before a magistrate following late-night public demonstrations.

Demands for Accountability

The victim's daughter, a former National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadet who previously harbored aspirations of joining the police force, expressed profound disillusionment with the justice system.

When the family confronted the judge regarding how an underage individual obtained access to the vehicle keys, the father reportedly dismissed their inquiries.

Legal representatives for the family are currently consulting with senior counsels to draft formal representations demanding that the registered vehicle owner be formally named as an accused in the ongoing criminal investigation. Senior police officials have yet to issue a comprehensive public statement addressing the deleted social media accounts or the eyewitness reports concerning the additional passengers.