Police investigating a fatal Kochi Mini Cooper crash near Cochin International Airport are examining videos that purportedly show 19-year-old Suhail Sajeev driving the luxury car at speeds above 200kmph, including one clip in which the speedometer rises from 204kmph to 220kmph. The crash killed three people riding a scooter on Airport Road in Nedumbassery early Sunday morning.
The victims were identified as Devika, 21, Gopika, 22, and Iyas, 21. According to the police account cited in the investigation, the Mini Cooper allegedly rammed the scooter from behind at around 1.45am. The collision killed all three young people travelling on the two-wheeler.
Police have arrested Sajeev on charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Investigators suspect that he was driving under the influence of alcohol, but forensic reports were still awaited when the report was published. The final findings are expected to help establish whether alcohol impairment contributed to the crash.
Three passengers who were travelling with Sajeev have also been arrested. Police allege that the passengers allowed him to drive despite knowing that he was intoxicated. Their alleged role forms part of the wider investigation into the circumstances immediately before the collision.
The videos being examined by police have added a further line of inquiry into the alleged driving pattern. Investigators are checking footage that purportedly records the car travelling at extreme speeds on multiple occasions. Police are also examining CCTV recordings, witness accounts and other evidence to determine what happened on Airport Road before the crash.
The case has also brought the vehicle’s ownership and use into focus. Police said Sajeev’s mother had gifted him the Mini Cooper for his birthday. The detail has become part of the investigation because of the allegations concerning the car’s speed, the driver’s suspected condition and the fatal collision involving three people on a scooter.
The Excise Department has initiated action against three bars suspected of serving alcohol to the group. Sajeev is below Kerala’s legal drinking age of 23, according to the report. The department’s action adds a separate regulatory dimension to the crash investigation, with authorities examining whether alcohol was served in violation of the applicable age restriction.
The arrests and departmental action do not by themselves establish the final criminal liability of those involved. Police are continuing to assess the available evidence, including the videos, forensic reports, CCTV footage and witness statements. The investigation will determine the sequence of events, the driver’s condition and the circumstances in which the scooter was struck.
