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Rolls-tanker accident: Kuber Group director Vikas Malu told to join investigation

Nuh police has formed a SIT to investigate the accident after new evidence suggested that the luxury sedan was speeding and rear-ended the fuel tanker.

Updated on: Aug 27, 2023, 09:58:42 IST
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The Nuh police on Friday served notice to Kuber Group director Vikas Malu to join the probe after the Rolls Royce he was travelling in on August 22 allegedly rammed an oil tanker on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway in Nuh, leaving two dead and four injured, including Malu himself, senior officers in the know of the matter said.

The Rolls Royce of a prominent industrialist was completely gutted after it rammed an oil tanker on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway on August 22 and caught fire. (HT Photo)
The Rolls Royce of a prominent industrialist was completely gutted after it rammed an oil tanker on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway on August 22 and caught fire. (HT Photo)

This comes a day after the Nuh police formed a special investigation team (SIT) to investigate the accident after new evidence suggested that the luxury sedan was speeding and rear-ended the fuel tanker.

RK Thakur, Malu’s counsel, confirmed that they have received the notice and said they have filed a reply that Malu will join investigations once he is discharged from the hospital after a week.

“He is to undergo a surgery for elbow dislocation on Monday. He has also suffered injuries to his lungs. He is recovering at the hospital and is in no state to join the investigation at present. His driver Tasbir was driving the Rolls and Malu was in the rear seat along with a woman passenger when the accident happened,” he said.

The woman, identified only by her first name as Divya, was discharged from the hospital and getting treated for rib fractures, said police.

Thakur said his client’s car was in a convoy with four other vehicles and they were headed to Jaipur to attend a family function.

“The car was not speeding; the speed limit on the expressway is 120km per hour. We have examined the CCTV footage and my client’s car was in their lane. All of a sudden, the oil tanker driver, without switching on his indicator, turned left to make an unauthorised U-turn. The car was going above 100km per hour and the driver could not apply the brakes on time and rammed the truck. The truck driver was completely at fault,” he said.

Thakur said the Rolls driver has joined the investigation and his statement has been recorded by the police.

“Driving below a speed of 50km per hour on an expressway is “more dangerous”,” he said, adding that Malu had not instructed his driver to drive either fast or slow.

Narender Bijarniya, superintendent of police, Nuh, said the crime investigation agency (CIA) in Nuh is conducting the investigation and have identified vehicles and eyewitnesses for questioning. “We will carry out a fair probe based on evidence and witnesses,” he said.

  • Leena Dhankhar
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Leena Dhankhar

    Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More