Thiruvananthapuram, August 7: In a partial relief to Sriram Venkataraman, the Kerala High Court on Wednesday refused to cancel the bail of the Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer who allegedly ran over a journalist in an inebriated condition in Thiruvananthapuram on August 3. The state government filed a plea in the court to cancel the bail granted to the IAS officer. Kerala Journalist KM Basheer Run Over by 'Drunk' IAS Officer's Car, Dies.

According to a report published in Hindustan Times, while hearing the plea, the court pulled up the police for not being to collect evidence like blood samples and fingerprints immediately after the incident. The Kerala HC scheduled the next hearing on Friday and sent a notice to the accused. The IAS officer was undergoing treatment at the medical college hospital in Thiruvananthapuram.

A first-class judicial magistrate granted Venkitaraman bail on Tuesday. In the court, the defence counsel argued that no alcohol has been traced in the blood sample of the IAS officer. Venkitaraman was booked under Section 304 of IPC after he was arrested by the police and charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Kerala Police Records Arrest of Sreeram Venkitaraman in Connection with Journalist KM Basheer's Death.

The IAS officer is accused of ramming his vehicle into a bike which was being driven by journalist KM Basheer who was the city bureau chief of Malayalam daily Siraj. Venkitaraman was accompanied by his female friend Wafa Firoze, who was also the owner of the luxury car. The incident took place near the Museum police station. After the incident, Venkitaraman was suspended from service on Monday.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 07, 2019 08:57 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).