Kerala Health Minister K. Muraleedharan claimed IAS officer Sriram Venkitaraman was granted special exemptions, surpassing those even former minister P.T. Chacko never received. Venkitaraman is an accused in the 2019 drunk‑driving death of journalist K.M. Basheer.

Key Takeaways

  • Sriram Venkitaraman received special exemptions despite being accused in journalist K.M. Basheer's death.
  • Even PT Chacko, a 1960s Kerala minister, never enjoyed such privileges.
  • The UDF government pledges support to Basheer's family and will consider appointing a special public prosecutor.

Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala – Health Minister K. Muraleedharan told a gathering of the Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) on Monday that IAS officer Sriram Venkitaraman got exemptions “that even P.T. Chacko did not get.”

Venkitaraman, currently Director of the Agriculture Development and Farmers’ Welfare Department, is a prime accused in the 2019 road‑traffic accident that killed K.M. Basheer, the Thiruvananthapuram bureau chief of the Malayalam daily Siraj. Basheer died on August 3, 2019, after his motorcycle was struck by a car allegedly driven by Venkitaraman.

PT Chacko, then Home Minister in the R. Sankar Ministry, was forced to resign in 1963 after being caught traveling with a woman party worker. Muraleedharan highlighted that even Chacko never received the kind of leniency Venkitaraman allegedly enjoys.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that the allegation of preferential treatment fuels public distrust in the administrative machinery and raises questions about the impartiality of justice when high‑ranking officials are involved in criminal investigations.

"If such exemptions are real, they could severely undermine the credibility of the judicial process," says legal expert Dr. Ajay Singh.
Did You Know?: Basheer’s family has faced multiple procedural hurdles since his death was declared in 2019.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exemptions did Venkitaraman receive? Muraleedharan mentioned administrative benefits and workplace privileges, but exact details remain undisclosed.

What is the current status of the case? The UDF government is reviewing a Kerala High Court ruling to decide on appointing a special public prosecutor, and a fresh judicial review has been demanded.