8 publishers · first seen Thu, 29 Oct 2026 05:36 UTC · updated Thu, 29 Oct 2026 20:22 UTC
The Kerala High Court on Thursday stayed the arrest of an Additional District Judge whose 17-year-old son allegedly drove a Mercedes-Benz that killed a scooter rider, Jayabalakrishnan, in a crash on October 25 in Kochi. Justice Kauser Edappagath granted interim protection to the judge, directing him to appear before the investigating officer and ordering that his interrogation follow Supreme Court guidelines. The judge, in his anticipatory bail plea, stated he was asleep and unaware his son had taken the car, learning of the incident only after a phone call. The court noted the judge had already been questioned for four hours and emphasized he would cooperate with the investigation.
The case was registered under Section 199A of the Motor Vehicles Act, which holds guardians or vehicle owners liable when a minor commits an offence using a motor vehicle. The provision prescribes up to three years in prison, a fine of ₹ 25,000 and cancellation of the vehicle's registration for 12 months. The Juvenile Justice Board granted bail to the teenager, while a plea seeking its cancellation is pending.
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