The car that was involved in the accident at Nedumbassery, Kochi, on October 11.
| Photo Credit: ANI
The Ernakulam Rural Police investigating the Nedumbassery luxury car crash that killed three persons claim to have secured an audio clip reportedly sent by one of the four accused to his friends, describing in detail the tragic turn of events shortly after the accident.
It was one of the digital pieces of evidence the police produced before the Ernakulam Additional District Court to oppose the bail applications of the accused on Monday (October 26, 2026). While the prosecution opposed the bail pleas, citing the need for police custody of the accused for more detailed interrogation, the defence countered that there was no requirement for further police custody and that the abetment charges against accused numbers two to four would not stand.
The court reserved its verdict for October 28.
The Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Angamaly, on October 17, had rejected the bail applications of all four accused. The Nedumbassery police had arrested four 19-year-olds – Suhail Sajeev, who allegedly drove the car under the influence of alcohol, and three co-passengers, Ninav, Ameen Sha, and Joyal S.
According to the police, Joyal, who had fled the scene immediately after the incident, sent an audio clip to one of his friends describing the incident in detail. “In the clip, he says that Suhail was heavily drunk and was driving at a very high speed when he knocked down three youngsters travelling on a scooter. He also claims that Suhail called his father immediately after the incident. He even shared news links related to the accident,” police sources said.
Witnesses
Meanwhile, the police are still tracing witnesses to the incident. Investigators claim to have tracked down a key eyewitness, an online cab driver, after extensively examining CCTV footage. “He was parked near the accident site and was checking his mobile phone. On hearing the sound of the collision, he rushed to the scene. Likewise, we are trying to trace more witnesses, which is proving to be a difficult task,” police sources said.
While Suhail and Ninav were taken into custody from the spot immediately after the accident, Ameen and Joyal, who fled the scene, were apprehended in Alappuzha the following day.
The accident occurred on October 11 around 1.45 a.m., killing Devika, 21, Gopika, 22, and Ijaz, 21.
Suhail allegedly visited three bars in the hours leading up to the incident and was driving at a speed of around 165 kmph at the time of the crash. His blood alcohol content, reportedly, was five times more than the permissible limits, the police had said.
The Excise Department subsequently suspended the licences of all three bars on charges of serving alcohol to an underage person.
The incident attracted considerable media attention, and the Opposition LDF raised the matter in the Assembly. Controversy also erupted over Suhail being sent to a Borstal school instead of a prison.
While rejecting the bail applications, the Magistrate of the Angamaly court noted that there was every possibility of the accused attempting to influence or intimidate witnesses and tamper with evidence.
“It was also pointed out by the counsel for the father of one of the deceased that accused no. 1 shouted that his father would take care of everything. According to the prosecution, the said circumstance, considered along with the nature of the occurrence and the fact that material witnesses are yet to be examined, gives rise to an apprehension that the accused may attempt to influence witnesses or interfere with the remaining investigation,” the order said.
Published – October 26, 2026 03:09 pm IST
