The Kerala government has reinstated IAS Sriram Venkitaraman (IAS:2013:KL) as COVID-19 Special Officer in the Health Department. Sriram was the prime accused in the death of a journalist Basheer in a road accident.
The government took the decision based on Chief Secretary Tom Jose’s report which recommended Sriram’s reinstatement. A source said the 33-year-old was appointed the Covid special officer, in the rank of a joint secretary, considering his educational background as a medical doctor. Though the government did not elaborate on the duties being assigned to Sriram, a senior health official said he would be coordinating activities against the pandemic.
Basheer was killed in the early hours of August 3 after being hit by a car reportedly driven by Sriram. But the police could not prove the charge that he was drunk at the time of accident, since his blood test was delayed. As a result the Chief Secretary wrote the Chief Minister recommending his reinstatement, since it was not proved that he was under the influence of liquor at the time of accident.
