Bail to be difficult for Juhu businessman

The Juhu police, investigating a drunken-driving accident, have converted the charges to damage to property, a non-bailable offence under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), thereby making it tough for the accused to seek bail. They have slapped this section in addition to other sections, which are of a bailable nature.

This is the first instance wherein the police have applied such stringent sections. The idea is to ensure that criminals don’t escape using legal loopholes. The police feel that this move will act as a deterrent, as the offender would be forced to spend at least a night in prison.

According to police officials, offences such as rash-driving, drunken-driving, talking on the phone while driving, are all charged as bailable offences, making it easier for the accused to seek bail on the day of the arrest itself.

This development was due to the drunk-driving accident that happened on Monday night, when Paresh Walia, 56, a businessman from the JVPD area of Juhu, allegedly rammed his Skoda car into pedestrian K Solanki, injuring him grievously.

Eyewitnesses told the police that after hitting the victim, the car dashed against the boundary wall of actor Balraj Sahani’s bungalow as well as adjacent sodium lamp posts.

“Since the accused also damaged property with his reckless driving, the relevant sections have been added, which are non-bailable in nature,” said senior police inspector Deepak Kathkade of the Juhu police station.

Initial investigations by the police have revealed that the incident occurred when the accused and one of his servants were coming back from their office in Santa Cruz. They halted at the Novotel Hotel in Juhu for attending nature’s call and were then proceeding towards their residence when the incident  happened.

Officials added that the accused probably lost  control over the steering and the accelerator. The accused’s blood samples have been sent for analysis.