The 34-year-old son of former Union minister and sitting BJP MLA Renuka Singh was arrested on Tuesday evening in a hit-and-run case in Raipur after he allegedly rammed a car into a biker on Monday, leaving the latter in critical condition. He was later granted bail.
The accused, Balwant Singh alias Lucky, was allegedly driving his friend’s car in the early hours of Monday when the incident happened.
“Balwant was arrested on Tuesday evening. He confessed that he was driving the car when the accident took place. Balwant’s friend, who owns the car, has also confirmed that he gave his car to Balwant. As the sections [under which he was arrested] were bailable, he was granted bail from the police station after he signed a bond of Rs 50,000 along with a guarantor,” a police officer said.
“Once the final report on the victim’s health is received, appropriate sections will be added in the case. The victim remains in critical condition,” the officer said.
The officer also claimed that the CCTV cameras installed near the site of the accident had “stopped functioning due to a technical error at midnight”, an hour before the accident took place at 1 am.
Accused Balwant Singh was allegedly driving his friend’s car early Monday when the incident happened, police say.
The accident
The incident took place at Salasar Chowk on the Ring Road in Raipur city. Balwant Singh was allegedly driving his friend’s car, and three of his friends were in the car, officials said.
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The victim, 34-year-old Tribhuvan Thakur, is a DJ and was returning home after working at an event. When he was taking a left turn, the car Balwant was allegedly driving rammed into him at a speed of around 80-100 kmph, police said.
Following the impact, Tribhuvan was thrown off the bike and dragged along by the car for a few metres, police said. They alleged that the car tried to speed away, but rammed into a divider around 2 km away.
An official from the Telibandha police station said, “The victim has suffered grievous injuries on his head, ribs, legs and back. He is in a critical condition.”
An FIR was registered against Balwant under BNS sections 125 (a) (endangering personal safety of others) and 281 (rash and negligent driving).
Jayprakash S Naidu is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently serving as the state correspondent for Chhattisgarh. With an extensive career in frontline journalism, he reports on the political, security, and humanitarian landscape of Central India.
Expertise and Experience
Specialized Conflict Reporting: Jayprakash is a leading voice on the Maoist/Naxalite conflict in the Bastar region. His reporting provides a critical, ground-level view of:
Internal Security: Tracking high-stakes encounters, surrender programs for senior Maoist leaders, and the establishment of security camps in formerly inaccessible "heartland" villages.
Tribal Rights & Displacement: Investigative reporting on the identity and land struggles of thousands of displaced tribals fleeing conflict zones for neighboring states.
Governance & Bureaucratic Analysis: He consistently monitors the evolution of Chhattisgarh as it marks 25 years of statehood, covering:
Electoral Politics: Analyzing the shift in power between the BJP and Congress and the impact of regional tribal movements.
Public Policy: Reporting on landmark infrastructure projects (e.g., mobile connectivity in remote zones) and judicial interventions, such as High Court rulings on civil and family law.
Diverse Investigative Background: Prior to his current focus on Chhattisgarh, Jayprakash held reported from Maharashtra, where he specialized in:
Crisis & Disaster Management: Notable for his extensive coverage of the Cyclone Tauktae barge tragedy (P-305) and the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on frontline personnel.
Legal & Human Rights: Investigative pieces for platforms like Article-14, focusing on police accountability and custodial deaths across India.
Environmental & Social Justice: Authoritative reporting on the Hasdeo Aranya forest protests and the approval of major tiger reserves, highlighting the tension between industrial mining and environmental preservation. ... Read More
Accused Balwant Singh was allegedly driving his friend’s car early Monday when the incident happened, police say.
