A day after a 57-year-old CEO of a tech-based company was mowed down while jogging, the 23-year-old accused driver, Sumer Merchant, was sent to police custody for two days on Monday.
As part of the investigation, the Worli police have sent blood and urine samples of Merchant to the forensics, while the offending vehicle has been sent to the RTO for technical investigation. The medical and technical results will be collectively included in the charge-sheet.
Joggers gathered in Dadar to check the progess of the case
Meanwhile, a large group of joggers had gathered at Shivaji Park, Dadar on Monday morning to check the progress in the case. During the interaction, the talk about installing speedometers and CCTV cameras at Worli Sea Face stretch came up, which the police promised to consider soon.
On Sunday morning, avid jogger Rajalakshmi Vijay Krishnan was out for her daily run when a speeding vehicle knocked her down near the Worli Milk Dairy. The vehicle hit the woman at a speed of 120km/h hence she was flung 20 feet away, resulting in fatal injuries.
According to the police, Merchant comes from a humble family background. He completed his education recently in a talent management course and was working in an event-management company for a salary of ₹25,000. He resides in Tardeo with his parents.
In his police statement, he told that he had been out with his friends since Saturday night. Next morning, he along with his two friends, including a woman, left in the vehicle and was driving towards the suburbs. The mishap took place half-an-hour later.
Police record statements of accused's friends
The police have recorded the statements of both the friends. The woman, who was accompanying Merchant, conceded that he was driving at high speed and upon reaching the Worli promenade area, he lost control over the vehicle, which led to the accident.
Merchant wasn't found drunk when checked with a breathalyzer. Maybe, because he consumed alcohol several hours before the accident. “The sections applied in the case are non-bailable. Section 304 (causing the death of any person by doing any rash or negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide) of the Indian Penal Code has a provision of imprisonment of up to 10 years. We are trying our very best to make a foolproof charge-sheet so he gets maximum punishment,” said Senior Inspector Anil Koli.
Visuals from the spot | ANI
