Truck Driver Accused of Murder, Yet Autopsy Suggests ‘Murder’ Occurred Prior to CollisionTruck Driver Accused of Murder, Yet Autopsy Suggests ‘Murder’ Occurred Prior to Collision On July 12, 2024, Vasudev Hanumant Madar, a truck driver, was arrested by Maina-Curtorim police in connection with the mysterious death of Kanhaiya Kumar Mondal in Loutolim. However, the autopsy report has revealed a surprising twist: the “murder” allegedly committed by Madar occurred before Mondal’s body was run over by the truck. The report indicates multiple stab injuries on the neck, abdomen, and left hand, with the neck injury damaging brain nerves. Despite this evidence, the incident has been registered as a murder case against Madar. According to SP South Sunita Sawant, Madar confessed to hitting “something” under the truck but did not stop due to the darkness. The discrepancy between the autopsy findings and the murder charge has raised questions. Cases involving accidental hit-and-run incidents typically result in charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Furthermore, the Ponda police, who detained the deceased, have failed to provide CCTV footage from the relevant period. This negligence has led to suspicions about the circumstances surrounding Mondal’s death. Speaking to the media, SP Sawant stated that the technical team was working to recover the missing CCTV footage. However, sources within the Goa Police have suggested that the footage is unavailable or corrupted for the exact duration needed. According to police protocol, any malfunctioning CCTV camera must be recorded in the station diary. However, the Ponda Police Station’s diary does not mention the issue, raising concerns about possible negligence. Goa Police have suspended three officers for their alleged negligence in this case. Comparison to BMW Hit-and-Run Case The discrepancies in the Loutolim case have drawn comparisons to a recent BMW hit-and-run incident in which a 52-year-old woman was killed. The accused driver, Mihir Shah, has been charged with several counts, but not murder. The disparity in charges between the two cases has sparked outrage and questions about the application of justice. Police officials have yet to provide clear answers or address the concerns raised by these discrepancies.
12 Jul 2024 | 06:57am IST
Truck driver booked for murder, but autopsy report shows ‘murder’ happened before ‘corpse’ was run over by truck
BASURI DESAI
MAINA-CURTORIM: The Maina-Curtorim police on Thursday arrested one Vasudev Hanumant Madar (59) resident of Khanapur, Karnataka, in mysterious death case of Kanhaiya Kumar Mondal at Loutolim in suspicious circumstances.
However, the Ponda police, who later confirmed that the deceased was in their custody, have failed to provide CCTV footage of that period leading up to the mysterious journey that Vasudev Hanumant Madar was made to undergo in the Ponda police vehicle and dumped on the road in the Maina-Curtorim jurisdiction.
It’s been 15 days since the death had occurred at Loutolim where the labourer, Mondal was dropped by the PCR van of the Ponda Police Station to Loutolim by crossing the jurisdiction of station.
Crucially, the autopsy report clearly indicates the death occurred before the deceased came under the running truck. According to the autopsy, there are multiple stab injuries on the neck, abdomen and slit on the left hand. The autopsy further specifies that the neck stabbing has cut the windpipe and damaged brain nerves on the neck.
The registration of a murder case against the truck driver is also surprising, given this remark of the SP South. Speaking to O Heraldo on Thursday, Sunita Sawant (SP South) informed that the driver Madar has confessed that something had come under the vehicle, but he didn’t stop as it was a night-time. “We have already registered the death as murder, and today we have arrested one Vasudev Hanumant Madar and taken on police remand. Further investigation is in progress under my supervision,” SP Sawant said.
While most cases of this nature, including the recent BMW hit-and-run case where a 52-year-old lady was dragged under the car and killed, are registered as culpable homicide cases not amounting to murder.
It’s baffling how a case of a truck driver speeding on an empty road at night accidentally hitting a body lying on the road, is facing murder charges.
Speaking further, Sawant informed that the technical team is in process to recover the CCTV footage of the Ponda Police Station to verify the claims from the autopsy report. This begs the question: Why is it taking 15 days? And sources have confirmed that the Ponda Police has said that the footage isn’t available or corrupted for the exact period when the footage is needed.
According to sources in the Goa Police, the CCTV footage at the Ponda Police Station after June 20 is not available.
SP Sawant, answering to the question of O Heraldo, has informed that even if CCTV of any police station is not working, then it was the duty of the in-charge of the Police Station to put it on record of the station diary as mandatory for the department according to a written circular.
As per preliminary investigation, there is no mention of the said event in the station diary of the Ponda Police Station, raising serious questions on the lapses of the staff. Goa Police has already suspended three policemen in regards to the negligence on the duty.
“There is no such mention on the station diary of the Ponda Police Station that the CCTV was not working,” SP Sawant said.
The Maina-Curtorim Police, the Ponda police as well as the office of the SP South need to provide clear answers to the questions raised in this report and probe the very suspicious and mysterious role of the Ponda Police who have been evading replies. They need to be brought under the ambition of investigation.
Murder for poor truck driver, but no murder for rich BMW hit-and-run (alleged) killer
Multiple cases but no murder charge against hit-and-run accused driving a BMW, Mihir Shah of Mumbai who ran over a killed a woman.
BNS (new criminal law) Sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 281 (rash driving), 125B (causing grievous hurt), 238 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender), and 324-4 (committing mischief and thereby causing loss or damage to the amount of Rs 20,000 and more but less than Rs 1 lakh), and Sections 184 (driving dangerously), 134A (not taking the injured person to hospital), 134B (not informing the police) and 187 (punishment for offences related to accident) of the Motor Vehicle Act.
Murder charge against truck driver in Goa who accidentally ran over what he felt was an object on the road.
Charges against him: Section 302 of IPC (Murder)
