No clean chit to Munde’s driver

A day after the demise of Union Rural Development Minister Gopinath Munde in a road accident, Delhi police has not given a clean cheat to the minister’s driver. 

Despite the arrest of the Indica car’s driver that dashed into Munde’s SX4 but later released on bail in connection to the fatal accident, Delhi Police is now leaving no stone unturned to find the exact sequence of events.

Several unanswered questions have come up during the investigation and action is being taken by Delhi Police. At around 6.40 am, the accident took place at Aurobindo Marg red light junction and police was informed at 6.45 am by the accused driver himself. He claimed that a red beacon car had hit him and fled away from the spot but the policemen despite taking action on his version, they nabbed him from the spot and took him to the police station.

Secondly, when Munde’s driver was contacted he told police that 26 seconds of the green signal were remaining and in the mid-way the over speeding Indica car rammed into their vehicle resulting in Munde’s death.

When the reporter asked SBS Tyagi, additional police commissioner (New Delhi) about the proofs supporting Munde’s driver version, he said, ‘It is yet to be establish that who had jumped the red light signal. The investigation is underway and we have not reached any conclusion as yet. The concerned traffic department in the area has been asked to provide the timing details of the signal.’

He further added that the circumstantial evidences suggest that the driver of Indica car had jumped the traffic signal. On the other hand, an advocate at Patiala Court, requesting anonymity said, ‘Idealy till the investigation is on, Munde’s driver should also be booked for negligent and rash driving. A case could be made against him on the basis of the statement given by Gurvinder Singh, accused driver.’

If sources are to be believed, to avoid any complications Delhi police has taken quick action without prior investigation. As a result, Singh was arrested and booked for rash or negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide and rash driving or riding on a public way. However, he was later released on bail.

Meanwhile, Delhi police special cell who is also investigating the other possible side of the accident has accessed the call detail records of Munde, his driver and the PSO accompanying him during the accident, sources in special confirmed.

Meanwhile, Union minister Gopinath Munde died of ‘shock and hemorrhage, according to the preliminary autopsy report submitted by AIIMS to Delhi Police, officials said Wednesday.

‘In this case (it) is a shock and hemorrhage consequent upon blunt ante-mortem injuries to the neck and liver,’ said the report. 

The report added that these types of injuries are commonly seen in road traffic accidents.

The report says there were two internal injuries in abdomen and neck due to the forceful impact of the accident. 

‘There was fracture separation of cervical vertebra between C1 and C2 (atlanto-axial joint) associated with transaction of spinal cord. The wound was associated with laceration of vertebral artery with other neck vessels and muscles and hemantoma measuring about 1,000 cc,’ it said.

The atlanto-axial joint is a joint in the upper part of the neck between the first and second cervical vertebrae.

According to experts, this joint is the highest joint in the spinal column and it lies just at the base of the skull. And thus in view of its proximity to the brain stem and importance in stabilisation, fracture or injury at this level can be catastrophic.

Doctors said Munde’s neck snapped due to the force of the accident.