Journalism of Courage
A 27-year-old law student has been arrested for allegedly hitting a businessman with his car and dragging him on the bonnet in South Delhi’s Greater Kailash 1 on Tuesday. Police said his father, a retired IAS officer, has also been booked for allegedly harbouring his son.
Raj Sundaram, who was allegedly driving the vehicle, a Volkswagen T-Roc, studies at a leading private university in Gurgaon. According to police, initial probe has revealed he does not have a licence.
The incident took place around 6 pm Tuesday and CCTV footage purportedly shows Raj driving the newly purchased vehicle and dragging the victim on the bonnet for over 100 metres before the man falls to the road and the car drives off.
The family of the man, Anant Vijay Mandelia (37), said he sustained multiple injuries on his head and is admitted at Max Hospital, Saket. He runs a hydroponics business and lives with his family in GK-I.
DCP (South district) Benita Mary Jaiker said, “Initially, a case under sections of rash driving and causing grievous hurt was registered. New sections have now been added on the basis of facts that emerged during investigation. The accused was arrested outside Le Meridian Hotel in Gurgaon and is facing charges under IPC sections 307 (attempt to murder) and 308 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder). We have also arrested Raj’s father, Pandyan Kalyan Sundaram, who retired from the post of joint secretary in the petroleum ministry. He was booked under IPC section 212 (harbouring).”
Police said they received a call about the hit-and-run incident and, after talking to witnesses, found that a mustard Volkswagen had hit Mandelia outside his house. Police checked CCTV footage in the locality and traced the vehicle.
“Police reached Raj’s house, from where they recovered the vehicle. He and his father were missing. Using technical surveillance, the father and son, who were communicating with their relatives and advocates via WhatsApp, were arrested from Le Meridien Hotel,” an officer said.
According to police, during questioning, Raj initially told investigators his father was at the wheel. Police, however, claim to have found CCTV footage which shows Raj getting out from the driver’s side and his father from the passenger side.
“We have also recovered several video clips from his phone of his car’s speedometer… showing a speed of over 120 km/hr. The locations suggest these videos were recorded in different areas of South Delhi,” said an officer, adding that the car was purchased by Raj’s father.
