TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The Panjim police are almost ready with a charge-sheet against Shobhika Gaur in the drunken driving case, where she knocked down and ran over two youth on their motorbike while driving on the wrong side in the capital last month. Panjim Police Inspector Rajendra Prabhudesai told Herald that they are expected to file the charge-sheet before a local court by August-end.
However, efforts of the Police to get her licence revoked/suspended rests with the Transport Department along with the others guilty of major traffic offences including drunk driving, probably – because of lack of political will.
The 30-year-old who was speeding on the wrong lane of D B Marg road had rammed into a bike, injuring the rider and pillion rider – Sandesh Khutkar and Kaiser Braganza. Sandesh has suffered internal injuries, a ruptured liver and a broken leg and hand while the other victim has a rod in his leg and severely injured his knees.
Besides one eye witness, the police have managed to get four police personnel on night patrolling and 108 staff who attended the victims post-accident to testify so far.
The medical report that confirmed that Gaur was under the influence of alcohol when she mowed down the two youth, will also be attached with the charge-sheet.
The accused is presently booked under Sections 279 (rash driving or riding on a public way), 338 (causing grievous hurt) of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 119 (disobeying traffic rules) and 184 (driving dangerously) of Motor Vehicle Act.
Within few hours of her arrest, days after the accident, she was released on bail bond of Rs 10,000.
The matter was taken up in the ongoing monsoon session of the Assembly wherein Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had admitted that most of the accidents reported at night are due to drunken driving.
He felt that bars and restaurants that are open till 4 am are responsible for this and as such, he said that henceforth bars seeking permission to remain open post 11 pm would have to take responsibility and ensure that the driver of the vehicle does not drink. He had also sought report on this case.
