In a grim reminder of actor Salman Khan mowing down pavement dwellers 10 years ago, the Khans’ family driver killed a 70-year-old woman with their Toyota Lexus car on Sunday night. The car belongs to Salman’s brother, actor and producer Arbaaz Khan, said police.
According to police, apart from the driver, Dhananjay Pimple, there was no one else in the car at the time of the incident. Pimple, who tested negative for alcohol, was booked by Mumbai police but was let off on bail on Monday.
Salman, meanwhile, told media, “We are not paying any compensation to the family members of the victim as we got to know that her family had disowned her.”
He, however, added that he, along with his brothers and father Salim, would attend the cremation.
The incident took place around 10.45pm on Sunday. Deputy commissioner of police Pratap Dighavkar said Pimple, 46, had left Salman's Carter Road residence around 10.30pm. He was headed to Salman's brother Sohail's residence.
“Around 200 metres from Salman's residence, Pimple realised that he had forgotten his bag containing his umbrella and tiffin box. He then attempted to reverse the car near St Andrew’s Church at Bandra. In the process, he ran over an elderly woman,” said Dighavkar.
In his statement to the police, Pimple said, “The woman was lying curled up on the road wearing a black dress, I thought it was a plastic bag.”
{{/usCountry}}In his statement to the police, Pimple said, “The woman was lying curled up on the road wearing a black dress, I thought it was a plastic bag.”
{{/usCountry}}The deceased, Chandana Bala, a pavement dweller, was rushed to Bhabha hospital but was declared dead on arrival. The police have so far not been able to track down her family members.
After realising what had happened, Pimple fled from the spot in the car, said Dighavkar. However, soon he surrendered at Bandra police station, following which he was arrested.
He has been charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder and rash driving.
Here's listing celebs who were booked for road accidents:
Salman Khan: Actor Salman Khan ran his Land Cruiser over some pavement dwellers in Bandra, Mumbai. The actor was booked for rash driving and causing death due to negligence under sections 304, 279 and 388 of the Indian Penal Code.
John Abraham: The actor injured two people while riding a motorcycle in 2006.
Lindsay Lohan: With two other occupants in the vehicle, Lindsay slammed her Mercedes into a curb, causing major damage to the vehicle.
George Michael: Singer George Michael was caught on the wrong side of law for driving under the influence of drugs in September 2010.
Keanu Reeves: Actor Keanu Reeves also made the mistake of driving under influence of alcohol.