📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Ravi Dwivedi
Crime
Kerala High Court told Kakkanad bus driver involved in fatal crash is NDPS accused
✍️ The Times of India
🗓 07 Nov 2026, 02:40 PM
👁 2
Police appearing before the Kerala High Court said the driver of the private bus that caused a fatal collision in Kakkanad is also named as an accused in a Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances case.
A private bus operating in Kakkanad was involved in a collision that left several people dead. The incident, which drew immediate attention from law‑enforcement agencies, prompted an investigation into the driver’s conduct and the circumstances surrounding the crash.
When questioned by a bench of the Kerala High Court, police officials disclosed that the bus driver is not only linked to the fatal accident but is also listed as an accused in an ongoing Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) case. The revelation ties a traffic‑related tragedy to a separate criminal probe concerning illegal drug activities.
Authorities said the dual allegations will be examined concurrently, and the driver could face separate legal proceedings for both the road‑safety breach and the drug‑related charges. The court has been asked to consider the implications of the driver’s criminal background while adjudicating matters related to the accident.
The case underscores growing concerns about the vetting of commercial vehicle operators in Kerala, with officials indicating that stricter checks may be implemented to prevent individuals with pending criminal cases from holding driving licences for public transport.
Further updates will follow as the High Court reviews the police submission and as investigations into both the crash and the NDPS case progress.
When questioned by a bench of the Kerala High Court, police officials disclosed that the bus driver is not only linked to the fatal accident but is also listed as an accused in an ongoing Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) case. The revelation ties a traffic‑related tragedy to a separate criminal probe concerning illegal drug activities.
Authorities said the dual allegations will be examined concurrently, and the driver could face separate legal proceedings for both the road‑safety breach and the drug‑related charges. The court has been asked to consider the implications of the driver’s criminal background while adjudicating matters related to the accident.
The case underscores growing concerns about the vetting of commercial vehicle operators in Kerala, with officials indicating that stricter checks may be implemented to prevent individuals with pending criminal cases from holding driving licences for public transport.
Further updates will follow as the High Court reviews the police submission and as investigations into both the crash and the NDPS case progress.