Kerala Court Denies Bail to Four in Mini Cooper Crash

A court in Kerala on Wednesday rejected the bail applications of four young men accused in a high-speed Mini Cooper crash near Kochi airport that killed three people earlier this month. Indian woman in UAE gets bail in Kerala over visa fraud.

The Ernakulam Additional District and Sessions Court dismissed the petitions filed by 19-year-old Suhail Sajeev, who allegedly drove the car under the influence of alcohol, alongside his three co-accused: Ninav, Ameen Sha, and Joyal S Anto. According to it was, Joyal allegedly recounted how the group visited a bar and how Suhail, who had already consumed alcohol, drank again before getting behind the wheel. It also contains an allegation that Suhail told people at the scene that his father would take care of the matter. Arguing that their presence in the car did not establish their involvement in the alleged offence, the lawyers also challenged the abetment allegations against the three passengers. While the other three have been accused of abetment, suhail faces a charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Syamlal S.R. pronounced the decision after hearing extensive arguments from both sides, though a detailed written court order is still awaited.

The four accused had approached the Sessions Court after the Angamaly Judicial First Class Magistrate Court rejected their initial bail applications on October 17. The lower court had previously refused bail to all four individuals citing serious concerns regarding possible witness intimidation and the potential tampering of crucial evidence, according to earlier reports. The recording describes how two of the occupants fled the scene and how local residents reacted after the collision, according to the report. The defence argued that continued custody was unnecessary and questioned whether the available evidence justified the charges against all four accused, during the bail hearing.

The fatal accident occurred at approximately 1:45 am on October 11 when a speeding Mini Cooper, allegedly driven by Suhail Sajeev, rammed into a scooter carrying three youngsters on the airport road at Nedumbassery. All three scooter riders succumbed to their injuries following the violent collision.

Accident Investigation and Case Details

• Accused Driver: Suhail Sajeev (19 years old)
• Co-Accused: Ninav, Ameen Sha, and Joyal S Anto
• Victim 1: Devika, 21 years old, from Wayanad
• Victim 2: Gopika, 22 years old, from Palakkad
• Victim 3: Iyas, 21 years old, from Karnataka
• Chemical Blood Analysis: 161 mg of alcohol per 100 ml (over five times the 30 mg legal limit)
• Chemical Urine Analysis: 230 mg of alcohol per 100 ml
• Forensic Evidence: CCTV video footage, Event Data Recorder (EDR) analysis, and vehicle fingerprints

The prosecution strongly opposed the bail petitions in court, emphasizing the extreme seriousness of the charges and detailing the extensive evidence gathered during the ongoing investigation. According to news reports by Onmanorama, a official chemical examination of Suhail’s blood and urine samples revealed extreme alcohol concentrations substantially above the legally permissible threshold for driving in India. The prosecution argued that releasing the accused at the present stage could affect the continuing investigation. Meanwhile, the victims’ families have demanded a thorough investigation.

Chemical laboratory results showed that Suhail’s blood sample contained 161mg of alcohol per 100ml, which is more than five times India’s legal driving limit of 30mg per 100ml. Furthermore, his urine sample tested positive for an alcohol concentration of 230mg per 100ml at the time of testing.

In addition to forensic toxicology reports, investigators successfully collected crucial CCTV footage showing the precise movements of the accused before and after the crash occurred. Investigators also obtained video evidence suggesting that Suhail was driving at dangerous speeds prior to the collision. Police further examined the Mini Cooper’s Event Data Recorder (EDR) with specialized technical assistance and extracted fingerprint evidence directly from the vehicle. Motor vehicle officials and airport civil works personnel also inspected the accident site, a team comprising police.

A voice recording allegedly made by one of the accused individuals around 1:25 am on the morning of the accident has also emerged as another important piece of digital evidence submitted directly to the court for judicial review.

Borstal School Transfer and Legal Proceedings

• Borstal School Ruling: Kakkanad Borstal School superintendent sought transfer to Viyyur Central Prison
• Court Observation: Petition rejected due to lack of established specific threat to Suhail’s safety
• Victim Family Legal Action: Gopika’s family requested the appointment of a special public prosecutor
• Related Regional Incidents: Kerala judge booked after 17-year-old son’s fatal crash

In a separate ruling delivered last week, the same court rejected an application seeking to transfer Suhail from the Kakkanad Borstal School to Viyyur Central Prison.

The formal transfer application, which was filed directly by the Borstal School superintendent, cited potential security concerns arising from the intense publicity surrounding the high-profile case. However, the court officially observed that no specific, tangible threat to Suhail’s safety had been established to justify the prison transfer.

Meanwhile, the family of victim Gopika has formally sought the official appointment of a special public prosecutor to ensure effective and rigorous prosecution of the case. The incident has drawn widespread attention in the region, coming alongside other recent high-profile traffic fatalities including a case where a Kerala judge was booked after his 17-year-old son was involved in a fatal crash.