Cosmos bank group chairman held in hit-and-run case

Mukund Abhyankar, 79, chairman of the Cosmos bank group, was arrested in connection with a hit-and-run case, in which his car hit a two-wheeler, killing its driver,

Mukund Abhyankar, 79, chairman of the Cosmos bank group, was arrested in connection with a hit-and-run case, in which his car hit a two-wheeler, killing its driver, the police said on Monday.

Abhyankar fled after his car hit Arundhati Hasabnis, however, locals informed the police and he was caught half-a-kilometer from the spot, said the police (HT Photo)

The victim has been identified as Arundhati Girish Hasabnis, 29, a public sector bank worker. She had been returning home on Sunday afternoon when Abhyankar’s Santro hit her from behind at Bhandarkar Road.

Hasabnis suffered severe head injuries though she had been wearing a helmet. Abhyankar fled, however, locals informed the police and he was caught half-a-kilometer from the spot, said the police.

Abhyankar was brought to the police chowky at Prabhat where an FIR was filed against him, following which, he was arrested. The police booked him under sections 304A (causing death due to negligence), 338 (causing hurt) and 279 (rash driving) of the Indian Penal Code.

He is likely to be produced in court on Monday.

During the interrogation, he told the police that his car did not hit Hasabnis. “I was driving when a bystander told me there had been an accident, in which Hasabnis’ two-wheeler skidded. My car did not hit the victim’s bike,” he said.