A senior officer with the Customs Department was arrested on Tuesday after he allegedly ran over two morning walkers in Mankhurd early in the morning, killing one of them and injuring the other.
The Mankhurd police said that Shaktivel Raju (43) is posted as Additional Commissioner with the Air Cargo section of the Customs in Mumbai. He was on his way to his Belapur residencewhen the accident occurred around 5:30 a.m.
Mr. Raju lost control over his official vehicle on Sion-Panvel Highway and veered to the side of the road, hitting Pandurang Kokre (45) and Ashok Bhandari (55), residents of Sonapur slums.
Victim undiscovered
While Mr. Bhandari fell on the road, Kokre fell into bushes along the street. Passing motorists took an unconscious Mr. Bhandari to Rajawadi Hospital. It was only after he gained consciousness around 9 a.m. that he told the police about Kokre. The police then brought Kokre to the hospital, where he was declared dead before admission.
‘Sleep deprived’
Mr. Raju did not attempt to flee the spot, and was taken into custody. “Mr. Raju has said he was sleep deprived and hence lost control over the vehicle. We have booked him for causing death and grievous injuries due to rash and negligent driving, under the Indian Penal Code and Motor Vehicles Act,” senior police inspector Sanjay Vernekar said.
Doctors said Kokre’s death was caused due to excessive blood loss. Mr. Bhandari is being treated for three fractures in his left leg and several other injuries. His son, Rakesh, said, “My father would go for a walk with Kokre every morning. They were walking in the pedestrians’ lane. We have not told my father about his friend’s death, even though he has been continuously asking about him.”
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone VI) Shahaji Umap said, “We have conducted medical tests and have ruled out drunk driving. Mr. Raju was produced in court and granted bail.”
