the goan I network
PANAJI
The accused Alpesh Gulavi, resident of Bhivandi, Thane in Maharashtra, was granted the benefit of doubt as the prosecution failed to produce sufficient evidence on record to substantiate that the accused was the driver of the ill-fated jeep.
Calangute Police had filed a chargesheet against Gulavi under Section 279, 337, 338 and 304-A of the IPC. The chargesheet stated that on December 6, 2011 at about 12.30 am near Sangolda showroom, Chogm road, Gulavi drove a Scorpio jeep in a rash and negligent manner while proceeding from Calangute towards Panaji and when he reached the spot, he dashed the compound wall of the said showroom and an electricity pole. Two passengers of the jeep lost their lives and three others sustained grievous injuries.
The short defence of the accused was that he wasn’t the driver of the jeep at the time of the accident.
The complainant deposed before the Court that he has not recorded any statement of any of the persons travelling in the jeep or any independent witnesses before reaching the conclusion that the accused was the driver of the jeep.
In addition to this, none of the injured passengers were examined by the prosecution and the investigating police officer did not explain how he reached the conclusion that Gulavi was the driver.
