The Kerala High Court has mandated a renewed investigation into the death of journalist SV Pradeep, with the city police commissioner of Thiruvananthapuram assigned to lead the probe. This directive, issued on October 30, 2023, was prompted by a petition filed by Pradeep’s 73-year-old mother, R Vasanthakumari.
The Kerala journalist met his demise in a hit-and-run incident near Karakkamandapam in Thiruvananthapuram on December 14, 2020. Initial investigations by Nemom police concluded that Pradeep, riding a two-wheeler, was struck by a Swaraj Mazda truck traveling in the same direction. The truck driver, apprehended a day later, reportedly fled the scene without stopping.
Amid suspicions of foul play, the family contested the case, resulting in the alteration of charges from Section 302 (murder) to Section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder). The High Court’s decision highlighted that the local police had amended the charges without conducting a thorough investigation, disregarding specific death threat allegations against the deceased.
The court ruled for further scrutiny, entrusting the City Police Commissioner, Thiruvananthapuram, with the investigation. It emphasized the need for a comprehensive inquiry into the case, considering the specific allegations and circumstances surrounding Pradeep’s death. The City Police Commissioner will now oversee the investigation directly, utilizing the case diary handed over by the present investigating officer.
Pradeep, a former journalist with various Malayalam TV channels, including Media One, Manorama News, and Kairali TV, was operating an online channel at the time of his untimely death.
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