Kerala HC extends stay on trial in journalist K.M. Basheer’s death

The Kerala High Court has granted a further stay on the trial of Sriram Venkitaraman, the Director of the Department of Agricultural Development and Farmers’ Welfare, regarding the death of journalist K.M. Basheer, until November 27. Justice C Jayachandran extended the stay on trial proceedings in Thiruvananthapuram Additional District Sessions Court.

The High Court requested clarification from the State regarding the decision not to allow the trial case to be prosecuted by the court's own prosecutor, and why a prosecutor from another court was assigned instead. The petition, submitted by C. Jaseela, the widow of Mr. Basheer, highlighted that the State had initially announced a special public prosecutor would be appointed for the trial.

However, the State informed the court that no special prosecutor was needed to replace the prosecutor handling the case at the time. Ms. Jaseela had requested the appointment of a senior public prosecutor skilled in managing trials of significant magnitude. Mr. Basheer had been killed in a rash driving incident, with Mr. Venkitaraman alleged as the primary accused.