PANAJI
The Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC), Mapusa, has convicted a local youth for rash and negligent driving leading to an accident that caused grievous injuries to a scooter rider in 2016.
The court held Rohan Korgaonkar of Arpora, then aged 27 years, guilty under Sections 279 (rash driving), 337 (causing hurt) and 338 (causing grievous hurt) of the Indian Penal Code.
As per the case details, on March 20, 2016, near Nagoa circle, Korgaonkar, while driving a Tempo Traveller, dashed against a Honda Activa scooter. The collision left the rider, Santosh Kinlekar, with serious head injuries requiring two surgeries.
“The evidence of the prosecution witnesses appears truthful, worth of credence and inspires confidence... the prosecution has proved the offences under sections 279, 337 and 338 of IPC beyond any kind of doubt against the accused,” reads the order by Magistrate Suman Gad, who sentenced Korgaonkar to pay fines of Rs 500 each under Sections 279 and 337 IPC, and Rs 800 under Section 338 IPC, with default simple imprisonment ranging from 10-15 days.
The court also directed him to pay Rs 30,000 as compensation to Kinlekar within 30 days, failing which he will undergo two months’ simple imprisonment.
The magistrate observed that, being a driver of a passenger vehicle, the accused had a duty of care on public roads and was not entitled to the benefit of the Probation of Offenders Act. The bail bond of the accused was cancelled, and he was directed to furnish a bond of Rs 5,000 with surety under Section 427-A of the CrPC.
