Thiruvananthapuram: Sriram Venkitaraman IAS has been suspended from service by Chief Secretary Tom Jose for his involvement in an accident that led to the death of journalist, K. M. Basheer. The Chief Secretary removed Sriram from his current position of Survey Director and has ordered a departmental investigation.
Incidentally, the police informed that the blood test have failed to trace alcohol content in Sriram’s blood. The test were done by the Analytical lab of the police department. However, there is widespread criticism against the police for delaying taking his blood samples by nine hours. The delay in collecting the samples might have diluted the alcohol content in his blood stream.
According to reports, in the early morning hour of Saturday, Sriram Venkitaraman rammed his car onto the motorcycle carrying Siraj newspaper Thiruvananthapuram Bureau Chief, Basheer. Unfortunately, the journalist succumbed to his injuries before reaching the hospital.
Eye witness say that Sirram was driving at high speed and was allegedly in an inebriated condition when the accident occurred.
Sriram had refused to give blood when he was brought to the general hospital and later also declined to give blood for testing at a private hospital.
He was admitted to a luxury hospital on account of the injuries he sustained during the accident. The magistrate ordered that he be shifted to the sub jail. However, on the basis of his injuries he was transferred to the Medical College. He is now recuperating at the Trauma ICU there.
The medical board said that Sriram is undergoing severe mental pressure. He will seek bail tomorrow at the First Class Magistrate.
