PANAJI
More than three years after the fatal Banastarim accident that killed three people and critically injured three others, the prosecution supplied all remaining case documents to the seven accused, including then AAP President Amit Palekar, only on Thursday.
The Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) court, Ponda, presided over by Senior Civil Judge Carlo Santana da Silva, subsequently committed the proceedings to the Sessions Court, as the case included a charge under Section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The seven accused – Shripad Sinai Sawardekar alias Paresh, Amit Palekar and others are directed to appear before the Sessions Court on November 26 at 2.30 pm.
The August 6, 2023 accident at Banastarim bridge saw three people killed, in which a Mercedes-Benz SUV allegedly driven by Paresh collided with multiple vehicles. Police alleged that Sawardekar drove under the influence of alcohol and in a rash and negligent manner, causing three deaths and serious injuries to other road users.
In its order, the JMFC noted that the accused had pointed out deficiencies in the supply of documents relied upon by the prosecution. They identified the outstanding papers after receiving the initial set of case records. The prosecution supplied the remaining documents on Thursday, completing compliance with Section 207 CrPC only on that date.
The court also recorded that the prosecution and the defence lawyers agreed that the case should go before the Sessions Court because Section 304 IPC had been invoked.
The Crime Branch, Ribandar, filed the chargesheet against Sawardekar, Palekar, Ganesh Lamani, Abhijit Shetye, Vishnu Tarcar, Atrey Sawant and Prajyot Chodankar.
The chargesheet alleged offences including rash driving, culpable homicide, causing hurt and grievous hurt, destruction of evidence, giving false information, harbouring an offender, criminal conspiracy and impersonation.
The prosecution alleged that some of the accused conspired to shield Sawardekar from legal consequences by presenting Lamani as the driver of the Mercedes SUV.
