Nagpur: In the early hours of Sunday, an unfortunate accident occurred on the Ram Jhula Bridge, resulting in the tragic deaths of two young men, Mohd Hussain Mustafa and Mohd Ateef. The incident involved a collision between a Mercedes car, allegedly driven by Ritika Maloo alias Ritu, and the scooter ridden by Mustafa and Ateef.
The Tehsil police are facing significant challenges in their investigation due to the absence of CCTV cameras on the Ram Jhula Bridge. The CCTV cameras installed on a nearby temple were unable to capture the accident. This limitation leaves the authorities heavily reliant on eye-witness accounts from bikers, scooterists, and those who rushed to aid the victims.
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Efforts to collect footage from other CCTV cameras are underway to ascertain the speed of both vehicles during the collision. However, the absence of visual evidence is hindering the investigative process. The investigation has been marred by multiple allegations and rumours, creating distractions for the police. Speculations about the discovery of liquor bottles in the seized Mercedes car and questions surrounding the women involved have fuelled public debate. Despite concerns, the police maintain that no bias is influencing the investigation.
A senior police official has expressed concern about the impact of these distractions on the case. The defense counsel may exploit these allegations during the trial to weaken the prosecution’s position. The police are diligently verifying each claim to establish a comprehensive and watertight case.
Ritika Maloo was charged with causing death due to rash and negligent driving under Section 304A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). This offense is bailable, leading to Ritika’s release on bail the same day. Madhuri Sarda, the co-passenger, was not arrested but served with a notice in accordance with Supreme Court guidelines.
Blood samples of Ritika Maloo and Madhuri Sarda have been collected and sent to the Regional Forensic Science Laboratory (RFSL) for analysis. The results of the forensic examination are pending and will likely provide crucial insights into the circumstances surrounding the accident.
The investigation into the fatal accident on the Ram Jhula Bridge faces challenges arising from the lack of CCTV footage and the multitude of distracting allegations. The Tehsil police are committed to ensuring justice for the victims, Mohd Hussain Mustafa and Mohd Ateef, as they work to piece together evidence for a thorough and fair legal proceeding
Public outcry over fatal accident:
The recent tragic accident on the Ram Jhula Bridge in Nagpur, resulting in the death of two young men, has evoked strong reactions from the local citizens.
Nagpurians, expressing their dismay to Nagpur Today, emphasized the necessity of holding the guilty accountable through the judicial system. The demise of the two young men in the accident is considered deeply unfortunate.
The citizens with anger writ large on their faces said that the accused woman driver was granted bail within 24 hours of arrest, a development met with dissatisfaction. Police registered the case under Section 304A of the IPC instead of the more stringent Section 304. Citizens argue that the circumstances, including well-illuminated conditions, absence of road issues, and minimal traffic flow, warrant the application of the non-bailable Section 304 IPC.
Residents stressed that invoking Section 304 IPC would have prevented the driver’s quick release on bail. They contend that unless someone was recklessly speeding, the accident, occurring in favourable conditions, could have been avoided. The demand for a reconsideration of the legal section under which the case is registered is growing.
