Kerala HC stays trial into death of journalist K.M. Basheer in accident involving car driven by Sriram Venkitaraman

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Sriram Venkitaraman, IAS officer, has been charged with offences under the Indian Penal Code and the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, for culpable homicide, destruction of evidence and for driving under the influence of alcohol.

The Kerala High Court has stayed the trial into the death of K.M. Basheer, journalist, after a car allegedly driven by IAS officer Sriram Venkitaraman rammed his two-wheeler in Thiruvananthapuram in Keralam in 2019.

The High Court stayed the trial after Jaseela, wife of Basheer, approached it, seeking the appointment of a new special prosecutor in the case. This followed the government informing the court on September 17, 2026 that there was no need to appoint a special prosecutor, citing that there was no reason to replace the prosecutor who is now handling the case. The government had earlier informed the court that it had taken an in-principle decision to appoint a special prosecutor. This was after Ms. Jaseela had raised the demand for appointing a special prosecutor. 

She had raised concern over the manner in which the prosecution was presently conducting the case before the trial court in Thiruvananthapuram. She cited that the prosecutor was not experienced enough to handle the case that had nearly 100 witnesses. Prior to approaching the High Court, she had submitted representations to the Additional Chief Secretary (Home department) and to the Home Minister in this regard.

The High Court has now directed the government to submit before it the files regarding its earlier in-principle decision to appoint a special prosecutor.

Mr. Venkitaraman had been charged with offences under the Indian Penal Code and the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, for culpable homicide, destruction of evidence and for driving under the influence of alcohol.

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