Nedumbassery car crash: Court rejects plea to shift prime accused from Borstal School to Viyyur Central jail

The Judicial First Class Magistrate Court-I, Angamaly, on Thursday (October 22, 2026) rejected a request by the authorities of the Borstal School at Kakkanad to shift 19-year-old Suhail Sajeev, the prime accused in the Nedumbassery drunk-driving case that claimed three lives, to the Viyyur Central jail citing security concerns.

The court pointed out that there is no specific evidence currently to show that the accused is facing safety threats at the facility. It stated that the accused has also not raised any concern over his safety at the Borstal School.

The court had rejected the bail applications of all four accused in the case on Saturday (October 17, 2026). The Nedumbassery police had earlier arrested Suhail, who allegedly drove the luxury car under the influence of alcohol, and three co-passengers, Ninav, 19; Ameer, 20; and Joel, 20.

The accident occurred around 1.45 a.m. on October 11, 2026 on the Airport Road near Athani. The three deceased, who had been working part-time at a commercial store, were returning after dinner when the speeding car hit their scooter. The luxury car was allegedly speeding at over 165 km per hour while ramming the two-wheeler from behind.

The victims included Gopika, 21, daughter of Pradeep Kumar and Sajitha of Mullankuzhi House, Edakurissi, Mannarkkad, Devika, 21, also known as Kukku, daughter of Santhosh Kumar and Saritha of Madakkimala, Kalpetta; and Iyas, 21, son of Ibrahim and Rukiya from Sullia, Karnataka.

The families of the victims had questioned the decision to send Suhail to the Borstal School, a detention facility for offenders aged 18 to 21, instead of a regular prison.

The Ernakulam Rural Police had denied allegations of preferential treatment to the accused, while pointing out that the court’s order specifically directed that the accused be remanded in the Borstal School.

They had cited Section 324 of the Kerala Prison Rules, which stipulates that steps should be taken to transfer prisoners below 21 years of age to Borstal Schools in order to prevent their character from being adversely influenced through association with prisoners belonging to other categories.