Mumbai e-bus crash: Police suspect bus driver may have ‘deliberately’ used vehicle as ‘weapon’ | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Mumbai Police on Tuesday sought custody of a civic transport bus driver involved in a accident that killed seven people and injured 42 in Mumbai, arguing they need to investigate whether the act was “deliberate” and if the vehicle was used as a “weapon.”
The court granted the police’s request, remanding the accused, Sanjay More (54), to custody until December 21.
The fatal crash occurred on Monday night around 9:30 pm on SG Barve Marg in Kurla (West), when an out-of-control electric bus operated by the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking ploughed into pedestrians and vehicles.
The accident left four policemen, on duty at the scene, injured and damaged 22 vehicles.
Locals apprehended Sanjay More after the crash and handed him over to the police after thrashing him. He was subsequently arrested and booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder, voluntarily causing hurt using dangerous weapons, and endangering public safety.
The police, in court, stressed the need to determine if the accused intended to commit the crime and whether a conspiracy was involved. They also highlighted the necessity to investigate More’s qualifications, including his training to operate electric buses and whether he was under the influence of narcotics.
Opposing the remand plea, More’s lawyer, Samadhan Sulane, argued that the accident could have resulted from a “technical fault” in the bus and emphasized the administration’s responsibility to ensure the vehicle’s roadworthiness.
According to police, More had no prior experience driving electric vehicles and had undergone only a ten-day training before starting to operate BEST’s electric buses from December 1.
Initial interrogation revealed More was mentally alert, and primary medical reports indicated he was not under the influence of alcohol.
The ill-fated 12-metre-long bus, manufactured by Hyderabad-based Olectra Greentech, is under examination by forensic experts and transport officers to rule out mechanical failure as a cause of the accident.
The injured are receiving treatment at various municipal hospitals, with some in critical condition. Meanwhile, BEST has formed a committee led by Chief Manager (Transport) Ramesh Madavi to probe the incident.
BEST officials reported that the bus’s speed accelerated uncontrollably during the accident. The vehicle was removed from the scene early Tuesday and taken to the Kurla depot for further inspection.
Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed sorrow over the tragedy, announcing Rs 5 lakh compensation for the deceased’s kin and coverage of medical expenses for the injured by BMC and BEST. “We stand with the families of those who lost their lives in this unfortunate incident. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” Fadnavis stated on X.
The BJP also called on BEST General Manager Anil Diggikar, demanding Rs 10 lakh compensation for the deceased’s families and Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 lakh for the injured.