JAIPUR: Three people were killed and five others injured when a BMW car allegedly driven by a Rajasthan MLA’s son rammed into an autorickshaw and a police PCR van in the city late on Friday night. Four police personnel were among those injured.
Police alleged that 20-year-old Siddharth, the son of independent MLA Nandkishore Mahariya, was driving the vehicle in an inebriated state.
The incident occurred around 1.50am, while Siddharth and his cousin Jayant, 19, were heading to Jyoti Nagar in a BMW 520d sedan. The three victims were identified as Jethanand, Kailash and Vishnu.
Among the police personnel, assistant sub-inspector Rajju Singh was admitted to S MS Hospital with head injuries. His condition is stable. The other three policemen sustained minor injuries. “Prima facie, it seems like Siddharth was driving… It has been ascertained from the breathalyser test that both Siddharth and Jayant were drunk ,” said SHO Kamal Nayan.
While Siddharth was arrested, Jayant has reportedly been released by the police.
SHO Bala Ram said the bodies of the accident victims have been sent for a post-mortem examination. “An FIR has been lodged in this regard under Sections 304( culpable homicide not a mounting to murder) and 279 (rash driving) of the IPC,” said Kamal Nayan, the investigating officer.
{{/usCountry}}SHO Bala Ram said the bodies of the accident victims have been sent for a post-mortem examination. “An FIR has been lodged in this regard under Sections 304( culpable homicide not a mounting to murder) and 279 (rash driving) of the IPC,” said Kamal Nayan, the investigating officer.
{{/usCountry}}Police said they were investigating whether there were other people in the car at the time of the accident. “The main accused is Siddharth because he was driving. But we think there were two others in the car, besides him and Jayant. They might have fled. We are searching for them ,” said additional DCP (South) Yogesh Goyal.
Siddharth and Jayant have been frequently changing their statements, said Goyal, adding that the MLA’s son has denied driving under the influence of alcohol.
Nandkishore Mahariya, the MLA from Fatehpur in Sikar district, stood by his son’s statement. “Medical reports from the SMS Hospital clarified that they (Siddharth and Jayant) were not intoxicated. It was raining, and the autorickshaw – which, some say, didn’t have headlights on – hit the front of the car from the side,” said Mahariya. He also denied that Siddharth was behind the wheel.