Former Kochi Police Commissioner denies interference in Mercedes crash case
Kumar says his transfer was part of a routine administrative exercise, rejecting allegations of interference in the investigation involving a judge's minor son
Denying allegations of interference in the investigation of the case regarding the death of a two-wheeler rider after being rammed by a Mercedes-Benz allegedly driven by the minor son of an Additional District and Sessions Judge, Former Kochi City Police Commissioner Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar said that his transfer was part of a routine administrative exercise and was unrelated to the case.
Kumar denies contact with judge or family
Speaking to reporters in Ernakulam, Kumar denied receiving any call from the judge or having any communication with him or his family. He refuted claims that he had asked junior police officers to favour the accused minor.
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"I am not at all present on social media, and therefore this is the only window for me to express this truth that I have not interfered or helped the family of the accused minor or his father in the case," Kumar said, as quoted by NDTV.
Victim's family alleges conspiracy after bail
The victim's family later alleged a conspiracy to weaken the case after the 17-year-old accused was granted bail from the police station. The decision led to protests and questions over the police response.
The minor was subsequently taken into custody after additional charges were added. The Juvenile Justice Board later granted him bail.
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Four officers attached to Cheranalloor police station were suspended over alleged lapses in the case. The state government also transferred Kumar and appointed senior IPS officer R Nishanthini as the new Kochi City Police Commissioner.
Kumar's police career and central deputation
Kumar was appointed as the Kochi City Police Commissioner in January 2026. An IPS officer of the 2005 batch, he was initially allotted to the Jammu and Kashmir cadre. He served as Additional Superintendent of Police in the region, where he was injured in a terrorist attack while on duty.
He received the President's Police Medal for Gallantry and the Police Medal for Gallantry in 2010. Kumar moved to the Kerala cadre reportedly on compassionate grounds in 2013.
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He had also served as the Kozhikode City Police Commissioner and Inspector General of Traffic and Road Safety Management.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs approved his appointment as Deputy Inspector General in the NIA in June 2021. He also served at the NIA's Kochi establishment before joining the CISF on central deputation. He became an Inspector General in the force in 2024.