The Maharashtra government informed the high court on Tuesday that Santosh Mane, the state transport bus driver, who had mowed down nine persons and injured 36 others in Pune in January 2012, had no remorse after the accident.
A division bench of justices VM Kanade and PD Kode is hearing a petition filed by the state government seeking confirmation of the death sentence awarded to Mane. Also, Mane has challenged his sentences pleading insanity.
During the hearing, justice Kanade asked whether Mane had shown any remorse or repentance after the incident.
To this, public prosecutor Sandeep Shinde told the court that the convict had not shown any remorse. However, Mane's lawyer, Jagdish Mane, said that he (Mane) was sorry after he realised what had happened. "When he realised that he had killed and injured persons, he was sorry. At the time of the incident, he was not aware what he was doing," argued Jagdish.
On a court query, Shinde also said that they had immediately granted compensation to the injured and families of deceased. "Rs36 lakh was given to the families of deceased. Rs3 lakh by the Pune Municipal Corporation and Rs1 lakh by the state government," said Shinde.
Also, injured were given compensation of Rs50,000 each plus actual medical expenses. Even owners of vehicles which were damaged in the incident were given compensation, added Shinde.
Apart from this, claims of nine other persons, whose vehicles were damaged, is pending before the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal.
The judges noted that the convict was not denying the incident but was pleading insanity. "They (defence) are not raising doubt over the incident. Hence they had not even cross examined many witnesses before the trial court. However, from the incident it cannot be infer that he (Mane) was insane," said justice Kanade.
The HC will continue to hear final arguments on Wednesday.
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