Kerala High Court has stayed the arrest of the judge accused in the Kochi Mercedes-Benz crash case involving his minor son. The Kerala High Court has stayed the arrest of an Additional District Judge accused in the Kochi Mercedes-Benz crash case, observing that there is no need to arrest him if he is cooperating with the investigation. The court directed that the judge's arrest remain stayed until further orders and asked him to appear for questioning before the investigating team at 1 pm on Thursday. The case relates to an October 25 accident in which a Mercedes-Benz allegedly driven by the judge's 17-year-old son hit a scooter, killing 55-year-old Jayabalakrishnan, who ran a roadside eatery in Kochi. The judge approached the High Court seeking anticipatory bail after being named an accused in the case. The vehicle involved in the crash was registered in his name. Police sources said the minor informed his parents immediately after the accident, following which they rushed to the spot in another car. The judge has maintained that his visit was driven by concern and was not intended to hamper the investigation or misuse his judicial position. In his anticipatory bail plea, the judge has claimed that he was asleep when his son took the car out and that he learnt about the accident only after receiving a phone call. He has argued that merely owning the vehicle does not establish criminal liability and challenged the culpable homicide charge. The accident occurred in the early hours of October 25 on Container Road near Maraparambu in Kochi's Cheranalloor. Jayabalakrishnan, 55, was returning home after closing his roadside eatery when the Mercedes-Benz allegedly hit his scooter from behind, killing him on the spot. The judge, who serves at the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal in Irinjalakuda, was booked under Section 199A of the Motor Vehicles Act, which deals with the liability of a vehicle owner or guardian when a juvenile commits a motor vehicle offence, subject to statutory conditions. The case has triggered scrutiny of the initial police investigation. Four police personnel were suspended over alleged lapses, and the probe was transferred to the District Crime Branch. Kochi City Police Commissioner S Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar was also removed from his post amid allegations of mishandling the case. The Kerala Motor Vehicles Department has separately issued a show-cause notice to the judge, seeking an explanation over how his minor son was allowed to drive the car. The department may take further action if the response is found unsatisfactory. The victim's family has demanded strict action against both the teenager and his father. The investigation remains underway, and the allegations against the judge have not yet been established in court. Diana George is Associate Editor at Times Now, with over a decade of experience covering national and international news, crime, and local politics. S... View More