Drink driving crash: Case against lawyer Janhavi Gadkar watertight ‘beyond doubt’

Police investigating the Janhavi Gadkar drink driving case said on Tuesday that the case against her is watertight ‘beyond doubt’ and that the charges against her were applied after carefully scrutinising the events of June 9, when Gadkar crashed her Audi Q3 into a taxi on the Eastern Freeway, killing two people and injuring four.

Police investigating the Janhavi Gadkar drink driving case said on Tuesday that the case against her is watertight ‘beyond doubt’ and that the charges against her were applied after carefully scrutinising the events of June 9, when Gadkar crashed her Audi Q3 into a taxi on the Eastern Freeway, killing two people and injuring four. Gadkar lawyers have challenged the charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, claiming it does not apply as the crash was an accident.

The-Audi-Q3-which-was-crashed-into-the-taxi-by-high-court-lawyer-Janhavi-Gadkar-killing-2-and-injuring-4-in-Mumbai-Kunal-Patil-HT-photo

But Dilip Raut, senior police inspector at RCF police station, said, “We invoked the charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder as she was fully aware of the outcome. She is a highly qualified advocate and was aware of the consequences of her actions.”

Police officers privy to the investigations said that a video shot minutes after the accident is an important piece of evidence against Gadkar, as is the testimony of taxi driver who saw the crash. “He is one of the prime witnesses. His statement will also be recorded in the presence of a magistrate to strengthen the case,” said a senior police officer.

Employees at Marina Plaza and Irish House, the two places Janhavi visited that night, have also corroborated the sequence of events, said the police, who have also acquired details of how much Gadkar drank that night, in addition to CCTV footage from the two establishments.

Gadkar, driving on the wrong side of the road, crashed into an oncoming taxi on the Eastern Freeway in the early hours June 9, killing 57-year-old taxi driver Mohamed Sayyed on the spot. His front-seat passenger, businessman Salim Sabuwala, succumbed to his injuries at Sion hospital, while Sabuwala’s wife Hafeeza, daughters Sadiya and Salma, and son Noman were injured.

Charges against Janhavi Gadkar

Indian Penal Code
Section 304 (II): Culpable homicide not amounting to murder
338: Causing grievous hurt with an act that endangers the life or personal safety of others
337: Causing hurt with an act that endangers the lives or personal safety of others
279: Rash driving or riding on a public way
427: Mischief causing damage worth Rs 50

Motor Vehicles Act
Section 183: Driving at excessive speed
184: Driving dangerously
185: Driving drunk or under the influence of drugs