IAS officer arrested for causing death of scribe

Thiruvananthapuram: IAS officer Sriram Venkitaraman was arrested here Saturday for causing the death of a scribe by allegedly driving in an inebirated state, police said.

The 33-year-old IAS officer, who was appointed Survey Director by the state cabinet on Thursday, was arrested under Section 279 (Rash driving on a public way) and 304 (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Indian Penal Code.

"We have recorded the arrest of Venkitaraman at the hospital.We have charged him under Section 279 and 304 of the IPC," an investigating officer told PTI.

Venkitaraman, also a Medical doctor and Fullbright Fellow, allegedly drove his car in a rash manner and hit the stationary motorcycle of K Muhammed Basheer (35), Bureau Chief of Malayalam newspaper 'Siraj', at a road in the heart of the city as he was returning home from work.

Basheer is survived by his wife and two children.

The IAS officer had recently returned to the state after completing higher studies abroad.

He was accompanied by model-friend Wafa Firoze, the owner of the luxury car.

Meanwhile, people from various walks of life, including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, state ministers Kadakampally Surendran, E Chandrashekharan, P Thilothaman, Opposition leader in the assembly Ramesh Chennithala, CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran and other MLAs paid their respects to the mortal remains of Basheer at the Press Club here.

The journalist fraternity here paid a tearful adieu to Basheer, who was a popular face among the media and social circle for over 12 years.