KSRTC driver assault case: Court issues notice to Arya Rajendran, Sachin Dev over exclusion from charge sheet

Thiruvananthapuram: In the case relating to the alleged attack on Yadhu LH, a former KSRTC driver from Nemom, the court has issued notice to former mayor Arya Rajendran, Balussery MLA Sachin Dev, and Arya, the wife of the ex-mayor’s brother Aravind. The notice was issued after the court admitted a petition filed by Yadhu challenging the charge sheet filed after they were excluded from the list of accused.

The case is being considered by Thiruvananthapuram Judicial First Class Magistrate Tania Mariam Jose. The respondents have been directed to appear in person or through counsel on January 21.

Yadhu has sought that all those named in the FIR be arrayed as accused and that the charge sheet already submitted be quashed. He has also requested that Subin, the conductor who was on duty with him, be made an accused. Yadhu has alleged that Subin destroyed the memory card from the bus following pressure from the accused, including the former mayor.

From the outset, the police had shown reluctance to register a case. It was only after the court, while considering Yadhu’s private complaint, directed that a case be taken on file that the Cantonment police registered it. At present, only the mayor’s brother Aravind, also known as Nandu, has been named as an accused.

The court had earlier issued strict directions for a fair and impartial investigation. However, the police filed the charge sheet excluding the former mayor and others.

The incident occurred at around 10 pm on April 27, 2024. According to the complaint, a private vehicle carrying the former mayor, her husband and others blocked a KSRTC bus in front of the Saphalyam Complex at Palayam, following which the driver Yadhu was verbally abused and assaulted. Advocate Ashok P Nair appeared for the petitioner.