The car that was involved in an accident that killed three students in Nedumbassery, Kochi, on October 11. | Photo Credit: ANI
The Ernakulam Rural Police, investigating the alleged drunk-driving incident that claimed the lives of three youngsters, are also investigating whether 19-year-old Suhail Sajeev, who was behind the wheel, was under the influence of narcotic substances.
The police are also probing whether the car was involved in illegal racing at the time of the crash, according to the remand report submitted by the Nedumbassery Police before the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court-I, Angamaly.
Apart from Suhail, the police have so far arrested three co-passengers, Ninav, 19, Ameen Sha, 20, and Joel S. Anto, 20. Suhail has been remanded in 14-day judicial custody and lodged at the Kakkanad Borstal School. The police are set to move an application before the court on Wednesday seeking his custody for detailed interrogation. A decision on whether to seek the custody of the co-accused is yet to be taken.
A joint inspection of the car by the police and the Motor Vehicles department to retrieve data from its Event Data Recorder is also expected shortly. This is expected to reveal information on the vehicle’s speed, throttle input and braking pattern at the time of the crash, which could prove crucial to the investigation.
The remand report states that Suhail and Ninav visited multiple bars from the evening of October 10, before the other two joined them at a bar in Nedumbassery, in the lead-up to the accident. It states that investigators are examining whether Suhail was under the influence of drugs, apart from being heavily drunk. The report accuses Suhail’s friends of allowing him to drive at a high speed while intoxicated, despite being aware of the threat it posed to human lives. The police have booked them for aiding and abetting the fatal incident.
Bail opposed
The police opposed Suhail’s bail on the ground that given the affluent and influential background of his family, the accused could tamper with evidence, influence witnesses or abscond.
Meanwhile, the Nedumbassery Police have sent biological samples for chemical examination, with the fluid analysis report expected within a day or two. However, charges including drunk driving and culpable homicide not amounting to murder have already been invoked, police sources said.
Published - October 13, 2026 06:26 pm IST