Court sentences 47-year-old man to one year jail for rash and negligent driving that caused sub-inspector's death in 2014 accident

Mumbai: A court has sentenced a man to one year in jail for rash and negligent driving, which led to the death of a sub-inspector in 2014. According to the prosecution, the court acquitted Mitesh Modi, 47, of the more stringent charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Failed to prove that he was drunk at the time of the accident.

Vikhroli police had booked Modi after he collided with a two-wheeler driven by Dattaram Kadam, a constable attached to the Chembur traffic division, on September 1, 2014. Sub-inspector Rajaram Desai, who later died of head injuries, was sitting in the back seat.

The policemen were going to Mulund from Eastern Express Highway. At around 1.45 am, when they reached Jogeshwari Vikhroli Link Road bridge, a car hit them from behind. Modi was driving the car. The prosecution examined six witnesses during the trial, which began in November 2021.

The court rejected the chemical analyst report of the blood samples, saying: “The prosecution has not proved that the medical officer himself sent the sample to the forensic science laboratory. According to the investigating officer, he has sent the sample to FSL. It has not been proven that the blood sample was sent to FSL through the messenger of the medical officer.

The court said that the prosecution failed to prove that the accused was drunk at the time of the incident. On the other hand, Modi claimed that the policemen themselves were drunk and could not understand which vehicle had hit them from behind. Modi claimed that he had only stopped at the accident site.

The court rejected his defense in view of the statements and testimony of the witnesses who had caught him and pulled him out of the car. While sentencing him the minimum punishment, the court said, “The incident happened more than 10 years ago. It seems that the accused has not committed any such crime during this period.