Parent Refuses Daughter's Prize From IAS Officer at Kozhikode Swim Event
A parent at a Kozhikode swimming event refused to let his daughter accept a prize from IAS officer Sriram Venkitaraman, citing the officer's involvement in a 2019 fatal accident.
A tense moment unfolded at a private swimming pool complex in Cherootty Nagar, Kozhikode, on Sunday afternoon when a parent objected to his daughter receiving a prize from IAS officer Sriram Venkitaraman.
The incident took place during a triathlon event that featured children in the main competition and Mr. Venkitaraman in the elders' category. When the officer was invited to present the award to a young girl who had won the swimming segment, her father intervened, stating that "a murderer should not give it to my daughter." He insisted that another person hand over the prize instead.
Mr. Venkitaraman is an accused in a 2019 road accident in Thiruvananthapuram that resulted in the death of journalist K.M. Basheer. While some attendees at the venue reportedly voiced disagreement with the parent's remarks, the father remained firm in his demand.
To resolve the situation, Sub-Collector S. Goutham Raj presented the prize to the girl. A video of the incident later circulated on social media, drawing attention to the event.