The investigation into the tragic BEST bus accident outside Bhandup Railway station last month, which claimed four lives and left around ten injured, has taken a decisive turn. The noose has tightened around the primary accused, bus driver Santosh Sawant, as key claims from his initial statement have been effectively ruled out by authorities.
Predecessor Driver Cleared, Mechanical Fault Ruled Out
In a significant development, the driver who operated the bus before Santosh Sawant on the fateful day was questioned by the Bhandup police on Monday. He provided a technical clarification, asserting he had no role in the incident. This directly contradicts Sawant's initial claim that the preceding driver had pulled the hand brake lever, and the bus sped out of control only when he, Sawant, later released it.
Adding to the evidence against Sawant's version, the Regional Transport Office (RTO) has submitted a verbal report stating no fault was found with the bus's mechanical systems. A preliminary inspection by the BEST's own technical team also corroborated this, finding the vehicle to be in proper working order.
Focus Shifts to Driver's Conduct and Psychological Evaluation
With external factors being eliminated, the probe is now intensely focused on driver Santosh Sawant's actions and state of mind. The Bhandup police, who had previously told the court that Sawant was not cooperating with the investigation, obtained his custody from Thane Central jail on Monday.
As permitted by the court, authorities conducted the second session of a psychological test on Sawant at Sion hospital. The first session was held on January 2, and the court had allowed tests on both January 2 and 5. Investigators are now awaiting the formal report from these evaluations.
Official Statement Points to Driver's Sole Responsibility
An official involved in the case provided a clear summation of the findings so far. "The Regional Transport Authority as well as the technical team of BEST bus which conducted the preliminary inspections told us that there was not any fault with the bus and held Sawant solely responsible for the accident," the official stated.
The official further revealed a crucial detail provided by the predecessor driver: before the fatal crash, Santosh Sawant had already taken the bus for one complete round. This counters any narrative of unfamiliarity with the vehicle. Police have now requested the BEST administration to provide detailed reports on Sawant's training sessions to complete their investigation.
The case continues to develop as authorities piece together the final sequence of events, relying on technical reports and psychological assessments to establish definitive accountability for the devastating incident.
