Hyderabad, Aug 21 (PTI) The preliminary tests for alcohol and drugs on the son of Andhra Pradesh MP Lingamaneni Ramesh, who was booked in connection with the death of a woman after an Aston Martin allegedly driven by him hit her, were negative, police said on Friday.
The Aston Martin driven by the Rajya Sabha member’s son Lingamaneni Sanjush (21) was seized and its inspection was carried out by a Motor Vehicle Inspector on Friday in connection with the accident, they said.
The Motor Vehicle Inspector’s report is awaited and will form part of the investigation, police said. Subsequently, the vehicle was deposited before a city court.
Bharati Mukhi (26), a native of Odisha, who worked as a sales executive at a mall here, died after the luxury car driven by Sanjush allegedly at high speed and in a rash and negligent manner hit her while she was crossing the road in front of the mall on August 16.
A video recorded after the accident showed a woman lying on the road with blood around her, while another woman, apparently her colleague, was heard shouting, “Bharati, Bharati”.
A man was also heard saying “stop, stop” as the driver emerged from the vehicle.
A case under section 106(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, was registered at Madhapur Police Station on August 16 and investigation was taken up, DCP (Kukatpally Zone) Ritiraj said in a release on Friday.
“Immediately after the registration of the case, the driver of the vehicle was apprehended and subjected to preliminary tests for alcohol and drugs. The results of both the tests were negative,” she said.
His blood samples were collected and forwarded to the Forensic Science Laboratory for scientific examination. Based on the report, appropriate sections of law would be invoked, the official said.
Having regard to the facts and circumstances available after the accident, the appropriate penal provision, Section 106(1) BNS, carrying a maximum punishment of five years, was invoked, the DCP further said. The alleged offence is punishable with imprisonment of less than seven years.
On an objective assessment of the material then available, no circumstances warranting the arrest of the accused were found to exist. Consequently, notice under Section 35 BNSS was issued to the accused, requiring his appearance and cooperation with the investigation, she said.
“The course adopted by the Investigating Officer was therefore in accordance with the statutory mandate and the law laid down by the Supreme Court regarding arrest in offences punishable with imprisonment up to seven years,” Ritiraj said.
She said it was incorrect and unwarranted to allege that the police refrained from arresting the accused under any extraneous influence.
The decision not to arrest was based on the legal requirements governing arrest, the circumstances of the case, and the material available during the investigation at that stage, she said.
The investigation is in progress. The MVI report and other relevant evidence will be collected and examined, and further action, including the necessity of arrest if warranted by the material subsequently collected, will be taken strictly in accordance with law, the DCP said.
After a post-mortem examination, the mortal remains of the woman were handed over to her brother and taken to Odisha, another police official said.
The post-mortem examination report and other relevant evidence are being collected, he said.
The official further said the car was not registered in Sanjush’s name.
Lingamaneni Ramesh belongs to Jana Sena Party (JSP).
Meanwhile, Sanjush said he did not run away from the spot following the accident but shifted Bharati Mukhi to hospital to ensure medical treatment to her.
He said he later went to the police station and cooperated with the probe.
The results of various tests conducted by police, including breath analyser, urine and blood, were negative, he said.
Describing the death of Bharati Mukhi “extremely unfortunate”, Sanjush conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family.
He urged that the developments prior and post the accident, the results of medical tests and all other evidence be taken into consideration.
According to police, the accident occurred when the woman was returning to the mall after collecting food from a nearby hotel along with her colleague. PTI VVK STH SJR VVK ROH
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