If granted bail, Jahnvi Gadkar may commit similar offence, says court

A local court hearing the bail plea of Jahnvi Gadkar, accused of mowing down two persons here under the influence of alcohol, was today told that if the corporate lawyer is let off, then she might again commit a similar offence.

This was conveyed by the Mumbai police while filing its reply to the bail application moved by 35-year-old Gadkar on Friday after she was remanded to 14-day judicial custody till June 26 by a magistrate court in Kurla, which today adjourned the hearing in the case till Wednesday.

"We feel that if she is released on bail, then she might commit a similar offence," said an police official from RCF police station where the case is registered. The police also said that she was solely responsible for the loss of two lives and hence her bail must be rejected. The reply also says that the case is serious in nature and if she is granted bail, then she may tamper with evidence.

According to police, Gadkar is charged with section of 304 (II) (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of IPC making it a sessions court triable case and hence the magistrate cannot grant her bail.

Police also said that they have enough evidence against Gadkar to prove that the killing was not a negligent act but falls under the ambit of section 304 (II).

Meanwhile, Magistrate Richa Khedkar also called for Gadkar's medical reports from the Byculla Jail after her advocate, Mahesh Sabnis, argued that she too had sustained injuries in the June 9 accident and if no proper care was taken, then it might turn into a permanent deformity.

During the hearing, the magistrate also allowed an intervention application filed by Sadia Sabuwala, daughter of one of the victims, to assist the prosecutor in seeking rejection of Gadkar's bail.

In the early hours of June 9, a car driven by Gadkar rammed a taxi, resulting in death of two people including the taxi driver on the Eastern Freeway here.

The deceased were identified as Mohammed Abdul Sayyad (55) and Mohammed Salim Sabuwala (50).