Mumbai police oppose bail plea of BEST driver accused in Bhandup crash that killed four

“An inspection of the BEST bus involved in the accident was received from the Regional Transport Office (RTO). It explicitly mentions — Not a Mechanical Defect,” the police reply filed in court stated.

The police further informed the court that the accused had undergone a mental health evaluation at the civic-run Sion Hospital, the report of which is awaited. Reports of blood and urine samples sent to the state forensic science laboratory to determine whether the driver was under the influence of any intoxicants are also awaited, the police said.

Opposing the bail plea, the police submitted that the investigation in the case is still ongoing. The court was told that if granted bail, the accused could tamper with the probe or attempt to influence witnesses, as they reside in the same area.

Sawant has been booked under Section 105 (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which carries a punishment of five to 10 years’ imprisonment. “The crime is of a sensitive nature and the accident has caused public outrage in the area. If the accused is released on bail, the possibility of a law and order situation arising cannot be ruled out,” the reply said.

Additional Public Prosecutor Ramesh Siroya, opposing the plea, told the court that Sawant is a seasoned driver with over 15 years of experience and should therefore have been more cautious. He also said there have been other instances, unrelated to the present case, where drivers have been found to be careless and using mobile phones or earphones while driving. He added that of the 12 persons injured in the incident, five remain critical.

Family members of one of the victims, a 24-year-old woman, have filed an intervention plea opposing Sawant’s bail application. The court is likely to pass an order on the matter next week.