Thiruvananthapuram: The driving licence of the main accused, IAS officer Sriram Venkitaraman is yet to be cancelled. It has already been two weeks since his car met with an accident and killed a Kerala journalist KM Basheer on August 3.

Venkitaraman was arrested, remanded in judicial custody and granted bail in the accident case related to journalist Basheer. The Motor Vehicles Department had issued a notice for cancelling the driving licences of both Sriram and Wafa, another accused.

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Wafa Firoz was a co-traveller, who was with Venkitaraman during the accident. Thiruvananthapuram Regional Transport Officer (RTO) SR Shaji said that the MVD has to give time to the accused to reply to the notice on the cancellation of licence either directly or through their advocate. However, the time limit for the two to give their reply is not yet over. The licence can be cancelled only after their reply. 

Venkitaraman had grabbed headlines for his hard work and diligence with respect to his job. Venkitaraman was strictly against encroachments and had reclaimed some of the properties, and the government was upset with this. This led to his transfer, but there were reports that he was assigned a new role as part of the promotion. 

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The government had faced criticisms for transferring the IAS officer, who took stern action again encroachments in Munnar. Following this, the government, including the chief minister, said that he was promoted and transferred and it was not a part of any vindictiveness.