BMW hit-and-run case: Utsav Bhasin convicted for rash driving, freed of homicide charges

A Delhi court on Friday acquitted Utsav Bhasin of harsher charges but convicted him under the lighter offence of causing death by rash and negligent driving in the 2008 BMW hit-and-run case in south Delhi.

Utsav Bhasin, then 19, was driving his BMW car when he hit two motorcycle-borne men near Moolchand flyover on September 11, 2008.(HT File Photo)

Utsav Bhasin, son of a Haryana-based businessman, was acquitted of charges of culpable homicide, in which the maximum punishment is up to life imprisonment.

Bhasin, then 19, was driving his BMW car when he hit two men — Anuj Singh and Mrigank Singh — on a motorcycle on September 11, 2008, near Moolchand flyover in south Delhi.

He was arrested, but later released on bail after giving two sureties of R 20,000 each.

The court has reserved the date for pronouncing the quantum of sentence.

The court convicted Bhasin under Sections 304A (causing death by rash and negligent act), 279 (driving rashly which could endanger human life) and 338 (causing grievous hurt) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

He was acquitted of charges under Section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder). The court acquitted him of these charges citing lack of evidence to prosecute him on harsher terms.

The court observed that the witnesses did not support the charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

However, under Sections 304 and 338 of the IPC, Bhasin may face imprisonment for two years or a fine.

Anuj Singh, who suffered injuries on cervical spine and slipped into coma and later died, was working as a freelance journalist and was also pursuing a course in graphic designing and animation from a private institution in south Delhi.

The victim’s father and brother were present in the court room during the trial.

The court has asked them to remain present on the next hearing on May 26. The court will then hear arguments on the quantum of sentence and amount of compensation.

The court has also asked the police to file a report on the economic condition of the victim’s family and the convict and his family.