Kerala High Court Stays Trial Against IAS Officer in Journalist Basheer Death Case

Kochi, October 1, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)

The Kerala High Court on Thursday stayed further proceedings in the trial against senior IAS officer Sriram Venkitaraman in connection with the 2019 death of journalist K.M. Basheer in a road accident.

Justice G. Girish passed the interim order while hearing a petition filed by Basheer’s widow, Jaseela, challenging the state government’s decision to reject the appointment of a Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) to conduct the trial. The court also sought records relating to the government’s decision and listed the matter for further hearing on October 27.

The prosecutor has been directed to obtain instructions from the government before the next hearing.

Basheer was killed in August 2019 when a car allegedly driven at high speed by Venkitaraman struck his motorcycle near Museum Junction in Thiruvananthapuram. The IAS officer is facing trial on charges including rash and negligent driving, causing death by negligence and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The trial began on August 1 this year, nearly seven years after Basheer’s death. Jaseela had earlier approached the High Court seeking the appointment of an SPP and had also challenged the transfer of the trial to another court. She later limited her plea to the appointment of the special prosecutor.

In August, the High Court recorded the state government’s submission that it had, in principle, decided to appoint advocate A. Santosh Kumar as the SPP. The court had then deferred the trial for a month to allow the government to issue a formal appointment order.

However, the government rejected the appointment request through an order dated September 17, prompting Jaseela to challenge the decision.

Her petition alleged that the government had reversed its position after informing the High Court of its decision in principle to appoint Santosh Kumar. Describing the move as a “U-turn”, she sought the quashing of the government order and a direction to the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) to appoint Kumar as the SPP.

The trial is being conducted before the Additional Sessions Court-IV in Thiruvananthapuram. The High Court’s latest order keeps the proceedings on hold until further consideration of the petition.