Ratnagiri accident: High court orders crime branch to probe

The Bombay high court (HC) on Friday transferred an accidental death case to the local crime branch of Ratnagiri police after noticing that it could be a murder.

The Bombay high court (HC) on Friday transferred an accidental death case to the local crime branch of Ratnagiri police after noticing that it could be a murder.

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“Prima facie, there seems to be some substance in the allegations made by the petitioner,” said justice Revati Mohite-Dere, regarding the death of Sachin Narkar, who his mother Sheela Narkar claimed was murdered.

On March 6, the Sagari police station in Ratnagiri district registered an accidental death case after Narkar was found dead in his car. Local police claimed that the car turned turtle and he died in the accident.

His mother, however, approached the high court, alleging that her son was murdered and his body was placed in the car to make it look like an accident.

She pointed out that though Narkar was purportedly driving the car, his body was found upside down on the back seat. Besides, her lawyer advocate PR Pandey also pointed out that the post-mortem report revealed that the deceased had multiple incised wounds, which could not have happened in the accident.

Justice Mohite-Dere also noted some other aspects which created doubts about the accident. “Prima facie, it appears that if the car had turtled in the manner as alleged, the car would have several dents and huge damage,” said the judge. “The photos of the car show none.”

Besides, the judge said, the injuries sustained by the deceased were only on the head and neck and there was no fracture of ribs as normally found in motor accident cases.

Against this backdrop, the judge thought it appropriate to transfer the investigation to the local crime branch.