The Kerala government will file a petition challenging the bail granted to suspended IAS officer Sriram Venkitaraman, who was arrested for alleged drunken driving that caused the death of a journalist in Thiruvananthapuram.
Local media reports said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had already given instructions regarding this to the officials concerned. The government move comes in the wake of allegations that the IAS officer got bail due to the lapses of police in pursuing the case.
Earlier in the morning, Thiruvananthapuram Judicial First Class Magistrate Aneesa A. granted bail to the officer after perusing the chemical examination report of his blood samples, which was found negative for alcohol content and the case diary of the police.
Venkitaraman was arrested on August 3, hours after the luxury car driven by him in an alleged inebriated condition while returning from a private party, knocked down journalist K. Muhammed Basheer, killing him on the spot.
Venkitaraman was later remanded to 14 days judicial custody.
The government had on Monday suspended the 33-year-oldofficer, who was serving as the Survey Director.