Nagpur News
Ramjhula Accident: Nagpur Court Declares Woman Driver’s Arrest Unlawful, Orders Release
A court in Nagpur has ordered the release of Ritika alias Ritu Maloo, who was accused of causing the deaths of two men while driving her Mercedes car under the influence of alcohol in Nagpur. The court deemed her arrest unlawful and instructed her immediate release. The court also directed that a copy of the order be sent to the police commissioner for appropriate action against the Investigating Officer responsible for the unlawful arrest. The incident occurred on February 25 on Nagpur’s Ram Jhula bridge when Maloo drove her Mercedes car recklessly under the influence of alcohol and crashed into two men on a scooter, resulting in fatal injuries to both riders. Maloo was initially granted bail on February 27. However, on March 7, the police informed the court about adding section 304 (Culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Indian Penal Code.
The court highlighted that despite the addition of new non-bailable and cognizable offenses, there was no permission given to the Investigating Officer (IO) to arrest the accused as per the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code. The court emphasized that the IO needed to obtain prior permission from the court that granted bail to the accused earlier before making the arrest, which was not seen to have been taken in this case.
Therefore, the court declared the arrest as unlawful and ordered the immediate release of Maloo.Late last month, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court had refused pre-arrest bail to Maloo, emphasizing the seriousness of driving under the influence of alcohol. The case has sparked controversy and raised questions about the delayed actions of law enforcement, as the accused remains at large despite the forensic report confirming alcohol consumption.
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