Trial of Sriram Venkitaraman in death of journalist to be deferred

The Kerala High Court has directed the Additional Sessions Court- IV, Thiruvananthapuram, to postpone further proceedings in the trial of Director of the Department of Agricultural Development and Farmers’ Welfare, Sriram Venkitaraman, in connection with the death of journalist K.M. Basheer.

The court noted that C. Jaseela, the widow of Mr. Basheer, had amended her petition earlier to remove the challenge to the transfer of courts petition. The court observed that Special Public Prosecutor A. Santhosh Kumar had been appointed to the case. However, there would be an administrative delay in formally notifying the position, the court added.

Ms. Jaseela had challenged a transfer of courts order by the Sessions Court, Thiruvananthapuram and had sought the appointment of a senior public prosecutor skilled in handling large-scale trials with hundreds of witnesses. Mr. Basheer had been killed in a rash driving incident where Mr. Venkitaraman was arrayed as the prime accused.