Kochi | Senior CPI(M) leader P Rajeev on Wednesday accused the police of "failing" to function democratically and attempting to protect the accused in the recent fatal Mercedes-Benz crash here under political pressure and influence.
Speaking to reporters after visiting the family of the 55-year-old man who was killed when a Mercedes-Benz allegedly driven by a minor hit his scooter near Kochi on October 25, Rajeev alleged systemic lapses in the handling of the case.
He urged the media to investigate which senior police officials had contacted the force to influence it to protect the accused soon after the accident.
Taking a dig at state Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, who admitted police lapses in the Cheranalloor crash in the Assembly, Rajeev said the situation had become such that the minister would have to visit every police station in the state and function as a sub-inspector himself.
"Even if he goes, the police may not accept him," the former minister said, alleging that money, local political pressure and other such factors were driving the functioning of the police.
"The police system in Keralam has ceased to be a completely democratic police system," he alleged.
Asked about media reports that the Enforcement Directorate had received legal opinion to proceed against former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in the CMRL-Exalogic corruption case, Rajeev alleged that it was part of a "politically motivated witch-hunt" by the central agency.
Rajeev's remarks on the crash came a day after the CPI(M)-led LDF opposition staged a walkout in the Keralam Assembly after permission was denied for an adjournment motion on alleged police excesses and lapses in the incident. Chennithala had admitted police failures and announced the suspension of four personnel.
