Team Herald
PANJIM: A borrowed Merc, a stolen joyride, and a horrific accident that left a pedestrian with crippling injuries – that is the heart-breaking and bizarre story that has unfolded since Tuesday night, when 21-year-old Archit Sangelkar reportedly took his girlfriend out for a spin.
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Sanglekar, a photography student, was approached by his neighbour Akshay Kavalekar, a hotelier and a Mercedes owner, who wanted some photos of his car clicked because he wanted to sell it online. Sanglekar requested access to the car for a couple of days, saying that he wanted to take his sister for a competition. Kavalekar was happy to oblige.
However, Sanglekar did not return the car as promised and on Tuesday night took his girlfriend for a joyride to Anjuna. On their way back, the speeding car knocked down Judith Fernandes, a music teacher at Ardee School in Sangolda, while she was taking an evening walk around 8.30 pm near Sao Joao Chapel, Siolim. Sanglekar did not stop and fled the scene; neither did he tell his parents or the car owner about the accident.
When the news of the accident started doing the rounds on social media, a suspicious Kavalekar confronted the 21-year-old, who broke down and confessed to his involvement in the accident. Kavalekar convinced him to go to the police station, where he was arrested but later released on bail. The police have seized the Merc.
The turn of events has left the Fernandes family shattered, and husband Prajay Simepurshkar questioning how the accused person got bail in a few hours. “Judith has suffered head injuries, a tailbone fracture and multiple other fractures. She is being treated in a private hospital at Mapusa and has been advised bed rest for a minimum of six months. She may not be able to walk for the next six months,” Simepurshkar told O Heraldo, pleading to the government to help the family in the crisis.
Head constable Krisha Asvekar, who is probing the case, said that Archit was arrested and released on bail after his statement was recorded, since the offence was bailable.
