Kerala IAS officer Sriram Venkitaraman was suspended on Monday and a special investigation team formed by the government, two days after his arrest for alleged drunken driving that caused the death of a journalist here.
The 33-year old officer, under judicial remand, was under observation at the Intensive Care Unit of the Government Medical College Hospital here even as police said the result of his blood test was negative for alcohol trace.
In a related development, a bail application filed by Venkitaraman was opposed by the police in a court here which adjourned the matter to Tuesday.
A sub-inspector of police was suspended for alleged lapses in initial investigation after an inquiry, police said.
The order of suspension was issued by state Chief Secretary Tom Jose based on a direction by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, official sources said.
"The Government views the matter seriously and accordingly Shri Sriram V, IAS (KL 2013) is placed under suspension with immediate effect under Rule 3(3) of the All India Services (Discipline & Appeal) Rules, 1969", the order said.
The opposition Congress led UDF had demanded the suspension of the officer.
The government, which has asserted it would not protect any official who violated law, appointed the Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by ADGP Sheikh Darvesh Sahib, to probe the case against the IAS officer.
The team will include personnel from the Crime branch and the police, a statement issued by the state police chief said.
Venkitaraman was arrested on Aug 3 several hours after the luxury car driven by him while returning from a private party hit 35-year old K Muhammed Basheer, Thiruvananthapuram Bureau Chief of Malayalam daily "Siraj", killing him on the spot.
It triggered an outrage with demands for suspension and resignation of the IAS officer amid allegations that he was trying to bail himself out of the case using his position.
Venkitaraman, a doctor himself, allowed police to collect his blood sample for examination nine hours after the mishap and after getting himself admitted to a posh private hospital here.
The investigating officer told PTI on Monday that "The result of the blood test has come out negative (for alcohol trace)."
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