THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The additional sessions court here has rejected the anticipatory bail plea filed by a police inspector, who is accused of a hit-and-run incident resulting in the death of a 59-year-old pedestrian near Kilimanoor on September 7.
The anticipatory bail plea of Parassala SHO P Anilkumar, who is currently under suspension, was turned down by the court observing that the officer has been charged under bailable sections. The charges levelled against the cop could invite maximum punishment of up to five years.
The officer in his bail plea said he was not aware of the accident as the vehicles that approached from the opposite direction did not dim their lights.
He also argued that he learnt about the accident death two days later from media.
The police, meanwhile, had countered this argument saying the officer was aware of the incident and he drove the car at high speed, resulting in the accident.
The officer was suspended for not informing the police about the accident and not transporting the injured to a hospital.
The incident occurred in the early hours of September 7, when Rajan, a daily wage labourer, was walking along MC Road. He was hit by the SHO’s vehicle around 5 am, and the driver did not stop.
Rajan lay injured on the road for nearly an hour before the police arrived at the place around 6am. He was taken to the Keshavapuram Community Health Centre, where he was declared brought dead.
The car involved in the incident was later confirmed to be registered in Anilkumar’s name. CCTV footage from the area also confirmed that he was driving the vehicle. Despite being a police officer, Anilkumar neither reported the accident nor attempted to assist the victim.