Kerala High Court stays further proceedings in the 2019 rash driving case against IAS officer Sriram Venkitaraman
2 October 2026
The Kerala High Court on Thursday, October 1, 2026, stayed further proceedings in the criminal trial in the 2019 rash driving case against IAS officer Sriram Venkitaraman, in which journalist K.M. Basheer died.
Justice G. Girish granted the interim stay on a petition filed by Basheer's widow Jaseela.
She had moved the court after her request to appoint Advocate Santhosh Kumar as Special Public Prosecutor to conduct the trial was rejected, and she sought to quash the government order rejecting the request.
She also sought a direction to the Additional Chief Secretary, Home department, to appoint the advocate.
The court called for the records that led to the government decision and directed the prosecutor to take instructions in the meanwhile.
The case has been posted to October 27 for further consideration.
The case is numbered WP(Crl.) 1485/2026 and is titled Jaseela C. v. State of Kerala and Ors.
In plain words
Special Public Prosecutor Special Public Prosecutor — A lawyer appointed by the government to conduct the prosecution in a particular case.
Interim stay Interim stay — A temporary court order halting proceedings until the matter is decided.