Cheranalloor luxury car crash: court upholds teen’s bail, raps police and prosecution

KOCHI The Additional District and Sessions Court designated to try cases involving atrocities against women and children in Ernakulam, Keralam, on Thursday (November 5, 2026) dismissed the appeals seeking suspension of the bail granted to the 17-year-old involved in the Cheranalloor crash case that claimed a life, while coming down heavily on the police and prosecution. Judge Kavitha Gangadharan questioned the very basis for the registration of the FIR against the teenager in conflict with law, pointing out that such registration is warranted only in offences carrying a punishment of seven years’ imprisonment or more.

The multiple alterations made to the FIR also came in for criticism. The police were accused of showing scant regard for the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, with the court questioning the absence of the social background report mandated in cases involving juveniles.

The court even read out the relevant provisions of the Act to the investigation officer, an Assistant Commissioner with the Crime Branch.