City court grants bail to BMW car accident accused

NEW DELHI - A city court granted bail Monday to a BMW car driver who ran down a 62-year-old man near Akshardham temple in east Delhi April 8 and sent a notice to the police over lapses in investigation.

BMW car driver Raman Singla, a resident of Madhu Vihar near Karkardooma, was out on interim bail till Monday.

Metropolitan Magistrate Savitri sent the notice to the concerned deputy commissioner of police (DCP) seeking an explanation why no alcohol test was conducted by the investigating officer on the accused.

On April 9, the court asked police: “Why was no alcohol test done on the accused? Since he is booked under the case of culpable homicide and rash and negligent driving, this test is necessary.”

On Monday, investigating officer K.J. Singh asked the court to seize the accused’s passport. The court said it will decide the issue Tuesday.

Judge Savitri, however, observed: “Whenever the accused has to go abroad he is bound to take permission from the court, thus, seizing his passport may not be needed.”

The next hearing in the case was fixed for April 21.

Om Dutt Chauhan, a resident of east Delhi, died after he was run over by the speeding BMW car while he was on a morning walk. The three occupants of the BMW car, driven by Singla, were also injured.

–Indo-Asian New Service