Test confirms Pune driver ill,sent to mental hospital

Bus driver Santosh Maruti Mane,who went on a rampage in Pune streets Wednesday,hitting everything that came in his way and leaving eight dead,was shifted to the mental hospital at Yerawada on Saturday after a test by the Sassoon Hospital confirmed that he was mentally ill.

The police had arrested Mane,39,on charges of murder and attempt to murder,among others. However,following the hospitals report,it produced Mane before a court Saturday seeking permission to send him to a mental hospital for observation. He will be kept there till February 1,Assistant Commissioner of Police Rajendrasinh Mohite said.

Dr Vilas Bhailume,head of the Yerawada Regional Mental Hospital,said Mane will be kept in a separate room and his behaviour observed.

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Mane had taken control of a Pune-Satara bus parked in the parking lot and proceeded to drive it at high speed on the wrong side,travelling about 15 km in 45 minutes,killing eight and injuring about 32.

Manes family has claimed he was suffering from mental problems and was stressed about being consistently put on long-distance routes.