The court has also issued notice on an application seeking preservation of CCTV footage of the accident, which it will hear on Thursday. The application was moved by the defence counsel
The victim, Navjot Singh, served as the deputy secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs. File pic
The Patiala House Court on Wednesday granted Delhi Police time to argue the bail plea of Gaganpreet Kaur, the accused in the BMW accident case that claimed the life of Navjot Singh, a deputy secretary in the finance ministry.
The judicial magistrate first class (JMFC) allowed the prosecution time until Saturday to oppose the bail plea, noting that Delhi Police has already filed its reply, news agency ANI reported. Meanwhile, the court extended Kaur’s judicial custody till September 27.
The court has also issued notice on an application seeking preservation of CCTV footage of the accident, which it will hear on Thursday. The application was moved by the defence counsel.
At the outset of the bail hearing, senior advocate Ramesh Gupta, appearing for Kaur, argued, “This is a simple accident case. Invoking the section related to culpable homicide not amounting to murder is totally unwanted.”
He further submitted that the investigation was flawed.
“There is an interview of the DCP—he should be made a witness by the investigating officer. An ambulance also came on the spot but did not carry the injured to the hospital. Should he not be accused?” Gupta contended.
He also argued that a DTC bus at the scene should have been impounded.
“I expect that the police will investigate the case in a fair manner,” the senior advocate said, further pointing out that the case diary was not paginated, which he said is mandated by law, ANI reported.
Gupta maintained that only two witnesses were present at the spot and they should be examined. He also questioned the application of Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), saying, “The police are saying she took the injured far away to a hospital, which attracts Section 304 against her; it is totally unwarranted.”
Opposing the bail plea, the Delhi Police submitted that the first information came from the hospital, not the scene.
“The accused was not seriously injured despite admitting herself to the ICU. She took the injured to a hospital far away from the spot, which raises serious doubt,” police told the court.
Advocate Atul Kumar, counsel for the family of the victim, Navjot Singh, also opposed bail. He alleged that Kaur deliberately took the injured to a hospital 20 kilometres away, known to her family.
“The injured was kept on a stretcher, whereas the accused admitted herself to the ICU though she was not seriously injured,” he submitted.
The counsel further argued, “She was in the ICU for hours. She did not inform the police. Neither did she call an ambulance from the spot. It shows the conduct of the accused. We can imagine the speed of the car—it overturned, and the airbags opened after the crash. Why did the accused not make an ambulance call? The Army Base Hospital is just a minute away.”
The public prosecutor, meanwhile, sought more time to argue, saying he was not prepared to present submissions on the bail plea.
(With ANI inputs)
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