Tragedy in Malad East: Four-Year-Old Boy Dies After SUV Collision in Society Basement
A devastating incident in Mumbai's Malad East has left a family shattered after their four-year-old son, Laksh Singh, died following a collision with a speeding SUV in the basement of their housing society. The driver, businessman Ramesh Jatara (45), initially faced negligence charges but has now been re-arrested under stronger sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
Sequence of Events Leading to the Tragedy
The incident occurred on February 7 around 4:30 PM in the B-2 level basement of Neelyog Virat, a highrise off Western Express Highway. Laksh, the only child of Jayprakash Singh and his wife, was playing with friends when Jatara's SUV came hurtling downstairs. Security guard Sunil Jaiswal, on duty in the basement, heard a shrill cry followed by a muffled sound and rushed to the scene.
"The SUV had hit a child and dragged him along. The boy was bruised all over and his toy was broken," Jaiswal recounted. "I picked him up and made him sit on a chair. But the motorist drove ahead to park his vehicle."
After parking, Jatara reportedly instructed the guards to find the injured boy's family and take him home before leaving the premises himself. Jaiswal, who had been hired just two days prior, didn't know where the child lived and stayed with Laksh, offering him water until the boy's cousin arrived.
Family's Anguish and Legal Developments
Laksh was rushed to a nearby private hospital but succumbed to his injuries. The family, who had just celebrated a wedding on February 5 with numerous guests staying with them, found their moment of celebration turned to mourning.
Jayprakash Singh, Laksh's father who runs a wholesale groceries business, expressed his devastation: "Had Jatara rushed my son to the hospital immediately after the incident, there could have been some hope for his survival. Laksh was born to us more than two decades after our marriage and was the apple of our eyes."
Initial police action saw Jatara arrested on negligence charges, with a holiday court granting him bail the next day. However, before his release from Thane prison, a crucial development occurred: Laksh's cousin informed police that Jatara had been warned previously about rash driving in the building compound but had ignored these warnings.
This revelation prompted Dindoshi police to add stronger charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The court was informed on Monday, and Jatara was re-arrested from prison on Tuesday.
Society Safety Concerns and Family's Demand for Justice
The Neelyog Virat society employs two security guards in its two-level underground basement, where children sometimes play despite the parking area designation. Police investigations revealed that Jatara owns an apartment in the building but has rented it out, using the basement parking for his SUV while living in a nearby society.
After completing Laksh's last rites on Sunday, the family learned about Jatara's bail and gathered at the police station to demand justice. "Our relatives demonstrated for justice," said Jayprakash. "A cousin gave a police statement about how Jatara had been warned in the past. Police then added stricter charges against him."
Laksh's mother echoed the family's sentiment: "We want the strictest possible punishment for Jatara. Laksh has been snatched from us at a tender age."
An autopsy examination to determine the exact cause of death is currently awaited as the legal proceedings continue against the accused driver.
