Detective Department suspects Sambia in Red Road hit-and-run case

Leaving aside all speculations, top brass of the Detective Department “is almost confirmed that Sambia Sohrab was driving the Audi” that crushed an officer of the Indian Air Force during the rehearsal of the Republic Day parade on Red Road.

It may be mentioned that the police had arrested three youth — Sambia Sohrab, Johny and Shanu — in connection with the hit-an-run case that claimed life of Corporal Abhimanyu Gaud.

Sambia had initially claimed that he was not driving the car and someone else was sitting on the driver’s seat. Names of his friends Johny and Shanu had also cropped up during the investigation.

The investigating officers on Wednesday first interrogated the trio individually and later they were questioned face to face.

Sources said during interrogation, both Johny and Shanu claimed that the car was being driven by Sambia. 

Even during face-to-face interrogation, Sambia initially claimed that he was driving the car. But later he confessed that the car was being driven by him when it hit the officer of the Air Force after breaking three security barricades.

“But still there were certain discrepancies in the statement of Shanu and Johny. Thus they would be further interrogated,” said a senior police officer.   

The police even reconstructed the plot that led to the incident in which the Air Force officer was killed. 

The plot was reconstructed after Sambia confessed that he was driving the car when the accident took place. 

But police have found discrepancies in the statement of all three friends while identifying the route through which they had reached Red Road. 

It may be mentioned that the incident took place when they were returning from a club where they were present till early morning.

Meanwhile, a three-member-team comprising senior officers of the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force on Wednesday met Surajit Kar Purakayastha, commissioner of police and Basudeb Banerjee, chief secretary. The team was led by General Officer Commanding, Bengal Area, Lt Gen Rajeev Tewari. 

They requested them to take necessary steps to expedite the investigation procedure and for fast actions against the accused in connection with the hit-and-run case.