Hyderabad: In a fatal road accident near Army Public School, Trimulgherry, that left a youngster dead, cops did not examine the eyewitnesses or record statements of a night patrol team, the first responders, resulting in injustice to a youngster who died after being hit by a speeding XUV.
“The investigating officer admitted to several lapses in the probe, including the failure to examine any eyewitnesses or collect CCTV footage from the accident location,” a city court, which delivered the verdict in the case recently, pointed out.
The youngster succumbed to injuries, but cops did not even submit to the court his medical treatment records to corroborate his injuries that led to his death. While the SUV driver was declared not guilty of the crime, a shoddy investigation denied justice to the victim in this case. According to police, the accident happened in November 2019, when the 26-year-old victim, working as a mobile salesperson, was on his bike returning home after meeting a friend.
A speeding XUV driven by a 34-year-old hit his bike from the opposite direction, resulting in the accident. A closer examination of the witness statements highlights the reliance on circumstantial evidence rather than direct proof of the accused’s involvement, noted the court.
Terming the statements of the victim’s wife, the complainant in the case, and other witnesses as ‘hearsay’, they do not establish the vehicle’s identity or the accused’s role in the incident, observed the court. Further weakening the case, an assistant motor vehicle inspector examined the alleged vehicle but never visited the accident site. His report does not conclusively prove that the accused’s vehicle was involved in the accident, said the court.
Stating that the case lacks independent witnesses, who could have provided objective accounts, the court also pointed out that critical evidence was also not submitted to the court. In view of these ‘evidentiary shortcomings’, the court said the prosecution has failed to establish the accused’s guilt with certainty, leaving room for significant doubts , and set him free.
“The investigating officer admitted to several lapses in the probe, including the failure to examine any eyewitnesses or collect CCTV footage from the accident location,” a city court, which delivered the verdict in the case recently, pointed out.
The youngster succumbed to injuries, but cops did not even submit to the court his medical treatment records to corroborate his injuries that led to his death. While the SUV driver was declared not guilty of the crime, a shoddy investigation denied justice to the victim in this case. According to police, the accident happened in November 2019, when the 26-year-old victim, working as a mobile salesperson, was on his bike returning home after meeting a friend.
A speeding XUV driven by a 34-year-old hit his bike from the opposite direction, resulting in the accident. A closer examination of the witness statements highlights the reliance on circumstantial evidence rather than direct proof of the accused’s involvement, noted the court.
Terming the statements of the victim’s wife, the complainant in the case, and other witnesses as ‘hearsay’, they do not establish the vehicle’s identity or the accused’s role in the incident, observed the court. Further weakening the case, an assistant motor vehicle inspector examined the alleged vehicle but never visited the accident site. His report does not conclusively prove that the accused’s vehicle was involved in the accident, said the court.
Stating that the case lacks independent witnesses, who could have provided objective accounts, the court also pointed out that critical evidence was also not submitted to the court. In view of these ‘evidentiary shortcomings’, the court said the prosecution has failed to establish the accused’s guilt with certainty, leaving room for significant doubts , and set him free.
