Cops dawdle over arrest, medical test

It wasn’t a celebrity hit-and-run but the other similarities between the Salman Khan case and the Surat case in which a police van ran ...

It wasn’t a celebrity hit-and-run but the other similarities between the Salman Khan case and the Surat case in which a police van ran over four labourers on Monday are striking. In this case, too, van driver Arvind Khairnar, was arrested hours after the incident. The medical test was even later.

Khairnar has also been booked under 304 (A) of the IPC like Khan though now Mumbai police have declared its intention to book the actor for culpable homicide not amounting to murder. It was at 1.30 am on Monday that a police van mowed down the labourers. After that the driver and the two policemen went to Katargam police station only five minutes away.

But a complaint was filed only at 3.10 am. And even though complainant Parbhu Damor, sleeping with the victims, said that a police van had mowed down the labourers, the FIR states ‘‘an unidentified vehicle killed four people’’.

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The van was washed and even used for a routine patrol at 8 am on Monday.

Khairnar was picked up from his residence after the intervention of ACP, Range-I, Mohan Jha at 2 pm. He was taken for a medical test to the New Civil Hospital at 5.10 pm — 16 hours later. These timings were verified with the New Civil Hospital. A report is expected in a week.

Jha admitted that involvement of a police van was not recorded initially. ‘‘As the mobile in-charge, Almabhai, is liable for negligence in reporting the case, we have placed him under suspension. An inquiry has been ordered.’’

About booking Khairnar, he said, ‘‘We are awaiting the report. Once the report reveals the presence of alcohol beyond permissible limits, then Khairnar will be booked under Section 304.’’

The summons come amid a broader crackdown by the ED on betting apps functioning illegally in India.

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