Lucknow Bus Crash Investigation Uncovers Illegal Ownership Trail and Registration Violations
In a significant development following the tragic bus accident on the Purvanchal Expressway in Lucknow on February 23, police investigators have uncovered a complex and illegal ownership trail involving multiple off-record sales and serious violations of transport norms. The probe has revealed that the bus, which was involved in the fatal crash resulting in five deaths and 41 injuries, changed hands several times without any corresponding updates to its official registration documents, creating a web of legal and regulatory breaches.
Illegal Ownership Chain and Registration Violations
According to detailed police findings, the bus was originally owned by Pradeep Kumar, who allegedly sold it to Subhash. Subsequently, the vehicle was sold again to Mukesh Kumar, a resident of Haryana, without any of these transactions being reflected in the official Registration Certificate. This blatant disregard for transport regulations meant that the bus was operating commercially without proper documentation that accurately reflected its current ownership status.
Police officials emphasized that it is a clear violation of law to operate any commercial vehicle without proper registration that mirrors the actual owner, especially when ownership changes occur. "The failure to update registration documents after sales creates significant safety and accountability gaps," stated a senior police officer involved in the investigation.
Police Action and Arrests
In response to these findings, authorities formed a dedicated six-member police team tasked with arresting all individuals involved in the illegal ownership chain. The team is pursuing Pradeep Kumar (the original owner as per registration), followed by Subhash and Mukesh Kumar, to hold them accountable for their roles in the regulatory violations that contributed to the accident's circumstances.
Additional Investigation Details and FIR Charges
The investigation has also uncovered that the cleaner, identified as Aniket, fled the scene on the day of the accident. Police teams have traced his last known location to Himachal Pradesh and are actively working to apprehend him. Meanwhile, an FIR was registered at the Gosainiganj police station under charges of BNS 105 (culpable homicide) against the bus driver.
The complaint was filed by Sulekha Devi of Bihar, who was traveling with her three children from Punjab to Darbhanga in Bihar at the time of the incident. According to the FIR, the driver was allegedly drunk and operated the vehicle in a rash and negligent manner, directly contributing to the catastrophic accident. The bus was carrying approximately 80 to 90 passengers onboard when the tragedy occurred, highlighting the severe consequences of such regulatory and operational failures.
This case underscores critical issues in vehicle ownership transparency and enforcement of transport laws, with police continuing their probe to ensure all responsible parties face legal consequences.
