BMW crash: Delhi court orders CCTV footage preservation; IO told to appear with case file

NEW DELHI: The Patiala house court on Wednesday Thursday issued a notice to the SHO directing preservation of CCTV footage related to the Dhaula Kuan BMW accident which claimed the life of Union finance ministry officer Navjot Singh. The court also directed the investigation officer to appear with the case file during the next hearing, news agency ANI reported.A day earlier, the same court had extended the judicial custody of Gaganpreet Kaur, the 38-year-old woman accused of driving the BMW involved in the crash, till September 27.

The accident claimed the life of Navjot Singh, deputy secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs, and left his wife injured.During Wednesday’s hearing, Kaur’s counsel, senior advocate Ramesh Gupta, sought preservation of CCTV footage of the accident. He argued that the case had been converted from an accident into one of culpable homicide not amounting to murder under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), corresponding to Section 304 of the IPC.Gupta pointed to alleged lapses in the probe, including a 10-hour delay in registering the FIR, failure to seize a bus allegedly hit by the BMW, and inconsistencies about whether an ambulance had refused to transport the victims.

He also demanded that the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), who first met eyewitnesses, be made a witness in the case.The defence claimed Kaur made efforts to help the injured, calling her father-in-law for guidance and accompanying a medical van, though leaving her phone behind in the car. Gupta insisted there must be a fair investigation.The complainant’s lawyer, however, alleged malafide intent on Kaur’s part.

He argued that she insisted the victims be taken to a hospital 20km away instead of the nearest one, and later admitted herself to an ICU to create a “false medico-legal case.” He added that Kaur was driving at such speed that the BMW overturned, endangering lives.The court has posted the matter for further hearing on Saturday.The accident took place on Sunday afternoon near the Delhi Cantonment Metro station when the BMW crashed, killing Singh and injuring his wife.

Their two children, aged five and seven, were also hurt. The family was returning home after visiting Bangla Sahib Gurdwara.Kaur was arrested on September 15 and initially remanded to two days’ custody. She faces charges under sections 281 (rash driving), 125B (endangering life or personal safety of others), 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), and 238 (causing disappearance of evidence) of the BNS.(With agency inputs)