Navi Mumbai: The NRI Coastal police have launched a manhunt for the driver of an SUV that crashed into a traffic island at the Nerul traffic signal on Palm Beach Road early Friday. The incident occurred around 4:30 am, after which the driver abandoned the vehicle and fled. Upon inspection, police discovered 69 kg of opium valued at approximately Rs 70 lakh in five plastic sacks inside the boot, along with a country-made pistol loaded with six bullets on the dashboard.
Investigation Details
PI (crime) Bhaskar Kokare of NRI Coastal police station stated, “In the damaged SUV, which bore a Rajasthan RTO registration, we found a motor driving licence belonging to one Ganpat Birbal Ram, with a residence address in Motaniya Nagar, a rural village in Osian tehsil, Jodhpur district, Rajasthan. Consequently, we obtained the licence holder’s registered mobile number from the Jodhpur RTO. It was also confirmed that the SUV (MG Hector) was registered in the name of Ganpati Birbal Ram. Accordingly, two police teams have been formed to trace the accused.”
One police team was dispatched to the Jodhpur address of the SUV owner, Ram, but he had not arrived there. Another team is tracking his mobile tower location, but the phone remains switched off.
Sequence of Events
Police reported that the SUV was heading towards CBD-Belapur when the driver lost control. The vehicle grazed a scooter, veered off the road, crashed into the traffic island, and rammed into the boundary metal railing, damaging two CCTV cameras. The incident posed a risk to public safety due to reckless driving and caused damage to public property estimated at around Rs 3 lakh.
The country-made pistol found on the dashboard is valued at approximately Rs 90,000 and was illegally procured, according to police.
Legal Action
The accused has been booked under the Arms Act, the NDPS Act, relevant sections of the BNS, and the Motor Vehicle Act for rash driving and causing damage to public property. Additionally, charges have been filed for fleeing the accident scene and failing to report to the police.
