The Kerala High Court on Thursday stayed further trial proceedings against IAS officer Sriram Venkitaraman in the 2019 road-death case of journalist K. M. Basheer. Justice G. Girish acted on a petition by Basheer’s widow, Jaseela, challenging the state government’s refusal to appoint a special public prosecutor.
The court called for records connected with that decision and directed the prosecutor to obtain government instructions. IANS reports that the matter will return on October 27. The interim pause does not amount to an acquittal or a finding on the criminal allegations.
Samakalika Malayalam reports that the government had earlier agreed to appoint advocate A. Santosh Kumar, but issued a refusal on September 17. Manorama News reports that the government order cited the absence of adverse reports about the existing prosecutor. Jaseela disputes the reversal. Thursday’s judicial scrutiny is a new development, separate from an earlier August 18 pause in the proceedings.