Eyewitness in K.M. Basheer death case involving Kerala IAS officer Sriram Venkitaraman turns hostile

Eyewitness in the case of journalist K.M. Basheer's death has turned hostile during trial proceedings, according to reports from The Hindu. On Tuesday, August 4, 2026, the sixth prosecution witness, auto-rickshaw driver Shafeeq, gave conflicting testimony compared to his earlier statements. During the court session, Shafeeq testified that he did not recognize the driver of the car that struck Basheer and could not identify IAS officer Sriram Venkitaraman as the accused. He described the driver as having a beard and noted that the individual in the dock resembled him only slightly. Additionally, he mentioned seeing a man and a woman present at the scene of the incident. Shafeeq further stated that the accident occurred due to the car being driven at a high speed. However, he emphasized that the driver did not show signs of intoxication. His testimony contradicted both his initial statement to the police and his confidential declaration before the magistrate during the investigation. According to Shafeeq, he had provided his original account based on information relayed by the police at the time. The auto-rickshaw driver also explained that he regularly visited the police station to sign in as he operated his vehicle late at night in 2019. This frequent interaction led to his involvement as a witness in the case. Another eyewitness, Manikuttan, another auto-rickshaw driver, had previously testified that Venkitaraman drove the car at an excessive speed and was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident. Manikuttan recounted that he noticed the car taking the Vellayambalam roundabout at high speed with a loud noise while driving his auto-rickshaw around 1 a.m. near Keltron Junction at Vellayambalam. He observed the vehicle overtake his vehicle and speed away at over 100 kmph. Later, he witnessed the vehicle involved in an accident near the Public Office complex and identified Venkitaraman as the driver. In a separate development, the Kerala High Court granted the state government a week to respond to a petition filed by C. Jaseela, the widow of journalist K.M. Basheer, challenging an order transferring the case. Basheer died after being hit by a car allegedly driven by Venkitaraman on August 3, 2019. The sessions judge had moved the case from the Additional District and Sessions Court - I to the Additional District and Sessions Court - IV in Thiruvananthapuram citing the health condition of the lawyer representing the accused. Jaseela raised concerns about the handling of the prosecution, arguing that the new prosecutor lacked experience in managing a case with nearly 100 witnesses. She had previously submitted representations to the Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, and the Home Minister before turning to the High Court. The petition also highlighted the slow progress of the prosecution. Venkitaraman faces charges under the Indian Penal Code and the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, including rash and negligent driving, culpable homicide, destruction of evidence, and driving under the influence of alcohol. As the trial continues, the testimonies of key witnesses remain central to the legal proceedings. The outcome of these developments will likely shape the trajectory of the case moving forward.