Why Journalists forced IAS officer to leave the Minister’s press meet? Here’s What Happened
Babushahi Bureau
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala), June 3, 2026: A tense scene unfolded in the Kerala Legislative Assembly media room on Wednesday after journalists strongly objected to the presence of Agriculture Department Director Sriram Venkitaraman during a press conference addressed by Agriculture Minister T. Siddique.
The incident revived attention on the controversial death of journalist K.M. Basheer, with members of the media refusing to proceed with the briefing as long as Venkitaraman remained seated alongside the minister.
According to media reports, objections were raised immediately after Venkitaraman entered the media hall with the minister for the scheduled press interaction. Journalists insisted that a person facing trial in a case linked to the death of a fellow journalist should not be part of an official government briefing.
The protest reportedly escalated as several journalists stood their ground, warning that they would boycott the press conference if their demand was not met. Faced with mounting opposition inside the hall, Venkitaraman eventually stepped out, following which the press interaction resumed.
The episode once again brought back public memory of the 2019 death of Siraj daily journalist K.M. Basheer, who was killed in a road accident near Museum Junction in Thiruvananthapuram while returning home from work. The car allegedly driven by Venkitaraman had hit Basheer’s motorcycle from behind, leading to fatal injuries.
The case had triggered widespread outrage at the time, including allegations of procedural lapses and attempts to shield the accused, particularly over delays in collecting blood samples despite suspicions of intoxication.