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The Nedumbassery police have arrested two more people in connection with the road accident in which three youth were killed on Sunday (October 11, 2026), even as the Excise Department booked three bars on charges of selling liquor to underage customers leading to the fatal car crash. Ameer and Joel, both from Alappuzha and aged 20, were arrested on Monday (October 12, 2026), the police said.
They were alleged co-passengers of Suhail Sajeev, a 19-year-old student from Kakkanad in Ernakulam, who was allegedly behind the wheels of the luxury car which rammed a scooter, killing three youths, including two women, near Nedumbassery in the wee hours of Sunday (October 11, 2026).
Sajeev and another co-passenger, Ninav, 19, of Alappuzha, were arrested on Sunday (October 11, 2026). All the four accused are college students, the police said.
“The three co-passengers have been booked for allegedly abetting the crime by allowing Sajeev to drive the car under the influence of alcohol,” the Nedumbassery Inspector told media on Monday (October 12, 2026). He said the accused had allegedly consumed liquor from different bars before the accident took place. He said the police have collected evidence including CCTV footage and bills from the bars. The police are awaiting lab reports to confirm if the accused was drunk while driving.
The Excise Department, meanwhile, registered cases against the licencees and managers of three bars — Daya, Kadavanthra, Monsoon Empress, Palarivattom and Courtyard by Marriot, Nedumbassery, on Monday (October 12, 2026), officers said.
Sajeev and others had allegedly consumed liquor from the three bars between 9.30 p.m. and 1.30 a.m. on Saturday (October 10, 2026) night, according to Excise officers.
The cases have been registered under Section 15B of the Kerala Abkari Act which prohibits selling liquor to a person under the legal age limit, which is 23 in Keralam. The accused have also been slapped with Section 56(b) which penalises those who breach the conditions of their bar licence.
Excise Minister M. Liju had on Sunday (October 11, 2026) ordered the department to identify and book the bars which allegedly served the under-aged customer.
P. K. Satheesh, Deputy Excise Commissioner, Ernakulam said that a detailed investigation has been launched into the incident and more people will be booked if found involved in the offence. “We will be seeking the custody of the accused for interrogation. We will submit a report to the Excise Commissioner based on the investigation,” he said.
The accused will have to pay a fine upto ₹25,000 each. The Excise Commissioner, meanwhile, can suspend the licence of the bars if the allegation is proven, sources said.
The Motor Vehicle Department has, meanwhile, reportedly initiated the procedures to suspend Sajeev’s licence.
Published – October 12, 2026 12:45 pm IST
