Rash driving convict released for taking victims to hospital

During this period of probation, he shall abstain from any illegal activity and shall keep peace and good behaviour and on failure of appellant to comply with the terms and conditions of probation bond, he shall undergo the sentence (2month jail) as prescribed by trial court.

A Delhi court has set aside a two-month jail term awarded to a man convicted for rash driving and released him on probation after noting that he took two injured persons to a doctor after the incident.

The court, while releasing Gramin Sewa driver Pradeep Tanwar, 47, on probation for one year, said he deserved an opportunity to reform himself as the judicial system is based upon reformative method.

According to the prosecution, on October 18, 2013, the complainants Anup Singh and Kuldeep, were going home near Fatehpur Beri in southwest Delhi when a Gramin Sewa vehicle, driven by Tanwar, hit them.

Due to the impact, the victims fell on the road and sustained grievous injuries, it said, adding that the driver, however, took them to a clinic for treatment but ran away after dropping them.

The court released Tanwar on probation on a bond of ₹10,000 with one surety of like amount while directing him to maintain peace and good behaviour.

“During this period of probation, he shall abstain from any illegal activity and shall keep peace and good behaviour and on failure of appellant to comply with the terms and conditions of probation bond, he shall undergo the sentence as prescribed by trial court,” said special judge Savita Rao.

The court also asked him to pay a compensation amount of ₹5,000 each, payable to both the victims, failing which he shall undergo the sentence as awarded by a trial court.

A magisterial court had held Tanwar guilty of offences under sections 279 (rash driving), 337 (endangering life or personal safety of others) and 338 (causing grievous hurt by endangering life or personal safety of others) of the Motor Vehicle Act and sentenced him to jail for two months.

The convict, in his appeal against this order, contended that rash and negligent driving was not proved and there was no witness in the case.

The sessions court, however, refused to accept this contention. It upheld his conviction but modified the jail term and released him on probation.