A court in Kerala has denied bail to four young men accused in a fatal high-speed car crash near Kochi airport earlier this month. The Ernakulam Additional District and Sessions Court rejected the bail petitions submitted by 19-year-old Suhail Sajeev, who is alleged to have been driving under the influence, along with his three co-accused—Ninav, Ameen Sha, and Joyal S. Anto.
The court’s decision was announced by Additional District and Sessions Judge Syamlal S.R. following arguments from both the prosecution and defense. This appeal came after the Angamaly Judicial First Class Magistrate Court had previously dismissed their bail applications on October 17. The detailed order is yet to be released.
The incident took place in the early hours of October 11, at approximately 1:45 a.m., on the airport road in Nedumbassery, near Kochi. According to police reports, the speeding Mini Cooper, allegedly driven by Suhail, collided with a scooter carrying three young people, resulting in their deaths. The victims included Devika, 21, from Wayanad; Gopika, 22, from Palakkad; and Ilyas, 21, from Karnataka.
The prosecution opposed bail on the grounds of the gravity of the charges and the strength of the evidence collected. Toxicology tests revealed that Suhail’s blood alcohol content was significantly above the legal limit in India. His blood sample measured 161 mg of alcohol per 100 ml, more than five times the permissible limit of 30 mg per 100 ml, while his urine sample contained 230 mg per 100 ml.
Investigators also reviewed CCTV footage tracking the accused prior to and following the crash. The police examined the Mini Cooper’s Event Data Recorder with technical assistance and gathered fingerprints from the vehicle. A combined team of law enforcement, motor vehicle officials, and airport civil works personnel conducted a detailed inspection of the accident site.
Earlier reports indicated that the car was traveling at speeds estimated around 160 km/h shortly before the collision. Further evidence has emerged from a voice recording recovered from Joyal’s mobile phone. The recording, reportedly sent to a friend around 9:25 a.m. on the day of the crash, includes an account of the group’s visit to a bar, Suhail drinking prior to driving, and descriptions of the car’s excessive speed before hitting the scooter.
The audio also reportedly details how two occupants fled the scene and describes local residents’ reactions to the accident. It contains an assertion that Suhail told bystanders his father would handle the situation. The recording is now a critical part of the ongoing investigation.