Vehicles dept yet to cancel Sriram’s licence
The Motor Vehicles Department had issued a notice for cancelling the driving licences of both Sriram and Wafa.
Thiruvananthapuram: The driving licence of IAS officer Sriram Venkitaraman is yet to be cancelled though two weeks have passed since the car he was driving met with an accident killing journalist K.M. Basheer here on August 3.
As per eyewitness accounts, Sriram was drunk while he was at the wheel of the car owned by his woman friend Wafa Firoz, who was also in the vehicle when the accident happened.
The Motor Vehicles Department had issued a notice for cancelling the driving licences of both Sriram and Wafa.
Thiruvananthapuram Regional Transport Officer (RTO) S.R. Shaji told Deccan Chronicle 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. The licence of Sriram was issued from Mattancherry sub-RTO office and that of Wafa from Attingal RTO office. “We have forwarded the recommendation for the cancellation to these offices. However, the time limit for the two to give the reply is not yet over. The licence can be cancelled only after their reply,” said Shaji.
Attingal RTO G. Sajan said that the details of the driving licence of Wafa Firoze had been given to the Tiruvananthapuram RTO office. They have to take further action, he said.
Mattancherry joint RTO Jebi Cherian said that though Sriram took his licence from Mattencherry it was renewed from Ernakulam RTO office as he is residing at Panampally Nagar now. Hence, the file was forwarded to the Ernakulam office.
Ernakulam RTO K. Manoj Kumar said that steps to cancel the licence of Sriram can be taken only after the police gave the details of the offences and FIR.
Though the MVD had sent notices earlier to Wafa Firoz thrice for speeding, she failed to remit the fine. The car also had tinted glass window violating the MVD rules.