The Kerala Police have arrested two additional individuals in connection with the tragic Mini Cooper crash near the Cochin International Airport in Nedumbassery, which resulted in the deaths of three young persons.
The latest arrests bring further scrutiny to the circumstances leading up to the fatal incident.
Investigation Details and Arrests
The accident occurred in the early hours when a black luxury Mini Cooper, allegedly driven by 19-year-old Suhail Sajeev, rammed from behind into a scooter carrying three friends—identified as Iyas, Devika, and Gopika—who tragically succumbed to their injuries.
According to investigating officials at the Nedumbassery police station, two companions who were inside the luxury vehicle at the time of the crash fled the scene immediately afterward. They were later tracked down and apprehended from the Alappuzha district, and have been formally charged with abetment.
Bars Under Scrutiny and High-Speed Revelations
Police inquiries have uncovered alarming details regarding the driver’s activities prior to the crash:
- Bar Hopping: Investigators established that Suhail and his friends visited at least three different bars in Kochi, where they consumed alcohol before heading towards the airport.
- Excessive Speed: Telemetric and initial police assessments indicate that the Mini Cooper was hurtling down the road at approximately 120 km/h at the time of impact.
- Excise Action: The Kerala Excise Department has initiated a formal inquiry against the three establishments for serving alcohol to a minor, as state regulations strictly prohibit supplying liquor to individuals under the age of 23.
Suhail Sajeev and another friend, Ninav, remain remanded at a Borstal facility in Thrikkakara. Meanwhile, grieving family members and local advocates have strongly demanded that stricter murder charges (Section 103 BNS) be applied, pointing to the driver’s history of reckless speeding and negligent behavior on public roads.
