The driver of the cab that knocked down former Intel India country head Avtar Saini resulting in his death, told the police he lost control over the vehicle as he dozed off because he was driving all night, an official said on Friday. Avtar Saini, 68, lost his life in a collision with a taxi on Palm Beach Road in Maharashtra’s Navi Mumbai while cycling with fellow enthusiasts.
“During his interrogation, Khade told the police that he dozed off as he was driving all night, due to which he lost control over the cab that knocked down Saini’s bicycle,” an official of the NRI police station was quoted by PTI as saying.
The incident took place around 5:50 am on Wednesday on the Palm Beach Road in Navi Mumbai’s Nerul area.
A case has been registered against the driver, identified as 23-year-old Rishikesh Khade. He was booked under various Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections, including 279 (rash driving), 337 (causing hurt by doing an act rashly or negligently to endanger human life) and 304-A (causing death of any person by doing any rash or negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide), and provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act.
“But the accused has not been arrested so far as the maximum imprisonment for sections applied against him is below seven years,” the police official noted.
The cab hit Saini’s bicycle from behind, causing him to skid on the road. The impact of the collision was such that it wedged the bicycle frame under the cab’s front wheels, and the driver attempted to flee, dragging the bicycle for a kilometre.
The cab was finally intercepted by passing motorists near the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation headquarters at Belapur.
(With PTI inputs)
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