Court refuses to discharge accused driver in Munde death case

A city court has decided to proceed with the trial of a driver, who had allegedly rammed his vehicle into the car of Union Minister Gopinath Munde, leading to the BJP leader’s death two years ago.

Special Judge Gurdeep Singh refused to discharge accused driver Gurvinder Singh in the case and held that there was “prima facie” evidence to try him for the offences, including rash driving and culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

Munde, 64, a prominent face of the Bharatiya Janatsa Party (BJP) in Maharashtra, had died apparently of shock and cardiac arrest suffered during the accident on June 3, 2014. 

The defendant’s contention that he was innocent and the drivers of cars ferrying VIPs drove at high speed, did not find favour with the court.

“Each case depends on its own facts and nothing can be generalised in this manner. There is no presumption that all drivers of VIPs, drive at a fast speed. Although, it may be true in some cases,” the court said, adding that the matter would be looked into during the trial.