Pereira case: Two days after SC verdict, Alistair yet to surrender

Two days after the Supreme Court verdict in the 2006 hit-and-run case, Alistair Pereira, whose bail was cancelled, is yet to surrender before the authorities here.

On January 12, the Supreme Court upheld the conviction and three years jail term awarded to the Mumbai-based businessman for mowing down seven persons by his speeding car in an inebriated condition, but said the punishment for the "despicable aggravated offence" was "too meagre".

The apex court, which concurred with the Bombay High Court's verdict holding him guilty for the offence, had said the sentence could not be enhanced as Maharashtra government has not challenged it.

It cancelled the bail of Pereira and directed him to "forthwith" surrender for undergoing the remaining sentence as awarded by the High Court in 2007 for the incident of November 12, 2006 in Mumbai.

However, Pereira has not yet surrendered before the authorities. Mumbai police said they can't arrest him as they are yet to receive the copy of the apex court order.

"We can only take action if a order copy is marked to the police," Deputy Commissioner of Police, Pratap Dighavkar said.

His lawyer Manjula Rao could not be reached for comment.

The High Court had enhanced the six month imprisonment awarded by a trial court to three years and also imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh.