Bus driver acquitted in conductor’s accidental death case

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

A local court acquitted bus driver Nitin Hivanj in the accidental death case of conductor Sachin Wankhede, ruling that there was no evidence to prove reckless driving under IPC Section 279. First class judicial magistrate Ujjwala Vaidya delivered the verdict, citing lack of proof that the accused was driving negligently on a public road.

The case stemmed from an accident on January 5, 2019, at the Cidco Bus Depot, where Wankhede lost his life after being struck by a reversing bus. The prosecution alleged that Hivanj, while manoeuvring the vehicle within the transport depot, unintentionally hit Wankhede, leading to his death. A complaint was filed against Hivanj by police officer Rajdhar Shejule at the MIDC Cidco City Police Station, prompting an investigation and subsequent legal proceedings. During the trial, defence lawyer Sandeep Rajebhosale contested the charges, emphasizing that the complaint had been lodged two months after the incident. He further argued that the accident occurred within a depot, not on a public road, making IPC Section 279 inapplicable. With no conclusive evidence of reckless driving, Rajebhosale urged the court to acquit the accused. The prosecution pressed for punishment, asserting that Hivanj’s actions led to Wankhede’s untimely death. However, after reviewing the evidence and hearing both sides, the court ruled in favour of the defence, declaring that the allegations remained unproven. As a result, Hivanj was acquitted, bringing the nearly five-year legal battle to a close.