Two die after car hits six in Chennai; drunk advocate arrested, booked

He was returning home after attending the farewell for outgoing CJ Indira Banerjee.

The traffic police of Adyar in Chennai on Tuesday arrested an advocate, a day after his car hit six persons on the Santhome High Road. Two of them died in hospital later.

The police said that Benz Reagan, a practising advocate in the Madras High Court, was driving his sedan on Monday evening towards his residence in Thoraipakkam after attending the farewell function to the outgoing Chief Justice Indira Banerjee on the High Court campus. While nearing the DGS Dinakaran Salai in MRC Nagar, an inebriated Reagan lost control of his vehicle and hit three motorcycles, a goods carrier and a few people waiting in a bus stand.

A few motorists and passersby nabbed Reagan and handed him over to the police. A grievously injured S. Ameer Shajahan (35) of Seven Wells and Abu Thahir (32) of Saidapet died of their injuries at the Government Royapettah Hospital.

J. Arunprakash (25) of Mylapore, J. Ilayaraja (39) of Old Washermenpet, G. Prakash (39) of Namakkal, R. Marques (25) of Kilpauk Garden, are under treatment for injuries.

The police have booked a criminal case against Reagan under Sections 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 279 (rash driving), 338 (causing grievous hurt) of the IPC and 184 (dangerous driving) and 185 (drunk driving) of the Motor Vehicles Act.

Reagan was remanded in judicial custody.