Irani in a spot after victim’s children contradict her claim

A day after HRD Minister Smriti Irani’s cavalcade met with an accident on the Noida-Agra Yamuna Expressway, which claimed the life of a doctor and injured his daughter Sandili and her cousin, the victim’s children contradicted her claim that she had tried to help the injured and ensure they reached hospital.

Rejecting the allegations that Irani had left the deceased Dr Ramesh Nagar and his injured children unattended, HRD Ministry on Monday said, “It was the minister who called police and ambulance for help.” On the other hand, Nagar’s daughter and her cousin said after the accident they were left unattended. The ministry had also rejected the charge that the car, which hit the doctor’s bike, was a part of Irani’s convoy.

Countering her statement, Sandili claimed, “Smriti Irani’s convoy rammed into our bike. I begged her for help but she left.” Sandili’s brother, Abhishek, also backed the allegation. “My sister literally pleaded with folded hands to Smriti Irani for help, but she did not stop,” he said.

According to the FIR filed by children, it has been alleged that Agra-based doctor Ramesh Nagar was killed after he was hit for the second time by a car in the minister’s convoy. Nagar’s 15-year-old daughter was riding pillion along with her 12-year-old cousin, who was severely injured.

Sandili claimed she and her cousin waited for several hours for medical attention. “The HRD minister’s car hit our bike, which was at slow speed. Our bike fell. I asked for help but they said no. They said you can get help later. If she wanted, she could have helped us. If she had helped us, my father would have been there with us,” said Sandili.

She claimed that Irani walked out of her car, which was damaged, got into another car and drove off. 

A press statement issued from HRD Minister’s office said that the car, with a registration number 5315, named in the FIR was not a part of the minister’s convoy. The statement also said the minister stopped to call a police officer for an ambulance even though she was hurt in the pile-up.

The minister’s version has been confirmed by the police officer whom she called. “The bike was hit by a Honda City. Two other cars also hit the same vehicle. Smriti Irani’s pilot car reached the spot around 8 minutes after the accident took place. She came out from the vehicle and called our control room for help around 9.20 pm. She stopped her car and came out to see what happened,” said the officer Rakesh Singh. He said Irani left after the police and highway rescue medical van arrived.