A tragic accident outside Bhandup railway station in Mumbai has led to the judicial remand of a BEST bus driver for 14 days. The incident, which occurred on Monday night, resulted in four fatalities and left ten others injured.
Court Rejects Police Custody Plea
On Saturday, Judicial Magistrate First Class NG Vyas of the Mulund magistrate court made a significant ruling. The court rejected the prosecution's request to extend the police custody of the arrested driver, Santosh Sawant (52), by another five days. The police had sought further custody, arguing that Sawant's psychological tests were ongoing and follow-ups were scheduled for Saturday and Monday.
However, the driver's advocate, Satish Rane, strongly opposed this plea. Rane contended that these psychological evaluations did not necessitate Sawant's continued detention in police custody. Following this argument, the magistrate ordered Sawant to be remanded to judicial custody.
Serious Charges Filed Against Driver
The bus driver now faces a slate of serious charges under the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Motor Vehicle Act. The charges against him include:
- Culpable homicide not amounting to murder
- Attempt to commit culpable homicide
- Rash driving
- Negligence and endangering life
These charges reflect the severe nature of the incident that unfolded near a busy railway station.
Community Seeks Answers After Tragedy
The accident has sent shockwaves through the local community in Bhandup. The loss of four lives and injuries to ten individuals has raised urgent questions about road safety, especially around crowded transit hubs like railway stations. Residents and commuters are demanding accountability and stricter safety protocols for public transport vehicles. The judicial process will now determine the driver's culpability as the city mourns this preventable loss of life.
