Sambia Sohrab acquitted of murder charge in 2016 Red Road hit & run case

Kolkata: The City Sessions Court on Wednesday acquitted Sambia Sohrab from the charge of murder and awarded two years imprisonment to him for running over an Airforce corporal supervising a parade rehearsal at Red Road on January 13, 2016.

The Court also slapped a compensation of Rs 1 lakh to be handed over to the family of the Red Road victim Abhimanyu Gaud and a fine of Rs 10,000 on Sambia.

However, acquitting Sambia from the murder charge and holding him responsible under section 304A (any rash or negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide) and section 427 (causing loss or damage to the amount of fifty rupees or upwards) of the Indian Penal Code meant that Sambia's release from prison is just a matter of formalities as he has already served more than two years of prison term.

The highest quantum of punishment for section 304A and section 427 of IPC is two years. The other three accused Shahnawaz Khan, Nur Alam alias Johnny and Mohammad Sohrab (father of Sambia) were also acquitted from the case. Police had charged them for harbouring a criminal and criminal conspiracy. Sambia was driving the Audi Q7 that had entered into the arena of the preparations for Republic Day parade, resulting in the fatal accident. "The police have not been able to establish murder charge against Sambia. The honourable Judge, while delivering the verdict, said that murder always involves an intention. But in this case, neither the victim nor Sambia knew each other. So the Judge termed it as a rash and negligent act and announced the quantum of punishment on the basis of that," said advocate Ashok Bakshi, who appeared for Sohrab.

It may be mentioned that the homicide wing of the Detective Department of Kolkata Police that investigated the case had submitted a chargesheet in the case and also framed charges under section 302 (murder) against Sambia. However, after trial in the case Judge Moumita Bhattacharjee convicted Sambia under sections 304A and 427 of IPC and pronounced her judgment.

Advocate Bakshi claimed that the Judge had expressed her displeasure in the probe of the case by Kolkata Police, as they failed to provide evidence in connection with the murder charge that they had levelled against Sambia.

It may be mentioned that Sambia and his friends were arrested within a week of the incident, but Sohrab had eluded police for more than two months. He subsequently surrendered in March 2016 and got bail.