A police constable from Mumbai crime branch has been arrested by the Marine Drive police for allegedly running over a hawker and two pedestrians near Nariman Point on Saturday night. The arrested person has been identified as Mangesh Chavan, 41, a resident of Naigaum police headquarters.
While one Mohammad Shagir Mohammad Gafoor Ansari, 45, a native of Bihar, died in the mishap, those injured have been identified as Sajid Jamaluddin Sayyed, 30 and Sunil Jaiswal, 10, both residents of Mahatma Phule Nagar at Nariman Point. They are receiving treatment in a hospital.
The constable claimed that he was on a night round when the mishap occurred. He also told the police that in order to save a horse-cart he took a sharp turn which led to the mishap.
According to the police, complainant Mohammad Sirajul Mansuri, 65, and his son-in-law Ansari (the deceased) has been staying in Mumbai for the past 35 years and selling plastic toys at various locations at Nariman Point between 5pm and 10pm. On Saturday too, as per their daily schedule they had gone to Nariman Point to sell toys. Around 10.10pm when Ansari was walking on the road, Mansuri heard a loud noise. Mansuri saw that a speeding white-coloured car (MH01-BA-4265) dashed into a tree near Jolly Makers building.
"When Mansuri went to see what had happened, he found that two-three barricades were placed for the road work at Jamnalal Bajaj Road had fallen and his son-in-law was lying unconscious. A woman then took Ansari to St George's hospital in a car, while Mansuri followed them in a taxi. Doctors declared Ansari dead on arrival. Ansari had sustained injuries\ across the body," said an officer from Marine Drive police station.
Following the accident, the driver of the car was assaulted by an angry mob. He was taken into custody by a police team that reached the spot after the incident. During questioning, the driver revealed that he is posted with Unit I of Mumbai crime branch.
Chavan told the police that he along with assistant police inspector Tukaram Deulkar were on duty when the incident occurred. "As per Chavan, their vehicle crossed Inox cinema and hit the Jamnalal Bajaj Road. While taking a right turn, a horse-cart came in front of their vehicle and in order to avoid a mishap they took a sharp turn and dashed their vehicle in a tree opposite Jolly Makers. Since he had taken a sudden turn, hawkers and pedestrians were injured in the accident," the officer said.
Chavan was placed under arrest on Sunday around 6.45am. He has been booked under sections 279 (rash driving or riding on a public way), 337 (Causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), 304A (causing death by negligence) of the Indian Penal Code and section 184 (dangerous driving) of the Motor Vehicle Act.
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