PANAJI
The Additional Sessions Judge, Panaji (sitting at Ponda) Cholu Gauns denied bail to Shripad Sinai Sawardekar alias Paresh, whose alleged drunk driving at Banastarim on Sunday killed three bike-borne victims and seriously injured 3-4 others.
The Mardol police alleged that the amount of alcohol in the 45-year-old businessman’s blood samples was 94 mg/100ml at the time of the accident, thrice more than the permissible limit of 30mg/100ml. “He knew he is drunk and still with knowledge that his driving may be fatal, he drove the car rashly and negligently killing three persons on the spot and seriously injuring others,” the police submission said during the hearing on Paresh’s bail application, on Tuesday.
The prosecution led by Public Prosecutor S Samant informed the Court that the accused was issued six e-challans for overspeeding. “His past antecedent speaks volumes,” he said, urging the Court to deny him bail. On the other hand, his defense counsel, Advocate S Lotlikar asserted that Paresh is ready to cooperate with the investigation and that the e-challans were issued against the driver of the car, hence it cannot be read against the applicant.
The Court acknowledged that alcohol content exceeded the permissible limit of 30mg while the panchanama and photographs revealed that empty Carlsberg beer bottles, Bisleri plastic (water) bottles containing ‘alcohol smelling liquid’ were stored in the Mercedes car GA-07-K-7311 which the applicant was driving.
“These circumstances support the prosecution's contention that the applicant was driving the vehicle under the influence of alcohol. These circumstances further demonstrate that the applicant has driven the car rashly and negligently with the knowledge that his act of driving may be culpable, within the meaning of section 304 of IPC and has caused the death of three innocent individuals. Besides three deaths, the accident caused damages to six different vehicles and has caused serious injuries to 3-4 other persons one of whom is still in ICU,” the Judge observed.
Admitting the prosecution’s further submission that the accused could influence the witnesses and that investigating officer be granted some time to investigate the case - considering the seriousness of the offence, the Court dismissed his bail plea.
