Delhi hit-and-drag death: Minor driver’s sister booked; victim was waiting for his first child, say kin

NEW DELHI: Police booked the sister of a 16-year-old boy on Wednesday, four days after a factory worker died when a car driven by the minor hit and dragged him for nearly 600 metres in northwest Delhi's Samaypur Badli.The sister, 21, was booked under Section 180 of the Motor Vehicles Act, which pertains to allowing an unauthorised person to drive, DCP (Outer North), Hareshwar V Swami, said. The role of the boy's mother is also under scrutiny for the same reason. The car is registered in his sister's name. Police are checking whether the car was involved in any previous offence.

The cops are also considering approaching Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) seeking permission to try the minor as an adult. Victim, who was the sole breadwinner, was waiting for his first child, say kin The boy went to get the car repaired at a workshop and then dropped the mechanic on way home, according to police. He was driving towards Rohini when he took a sudden turn and hit Sujeet Mandal, 32. CCTV footage of the incident shows the car knocking down Mandal who then gets stuck under it. The car momentarily stops as some bystanders approach it, only to accelerate again, continuing to drag the victim and leaving his slippers scattered on the road.

Another video purportedly recorded by passersby shows Mandal's face covered in blood and his clothes ripped off while he was wedged under the car.The CCTV footage also shows a cyclist attempting to alert the boy, but instead, he continues driving, till Mandal's body comes off from under the car. He then speeds away. The boy went home and then to a relative's place. Police zeroed in on him and detained him after the footage revealed the car's registration number.

A case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder was registered against him. Sujeet's brother-in-law, Jitesh, said Sujeet's seven-month pregnant wife was awaiting the birth of their first child. "He was very happy and excited," Jitesh said. "He was the sole breadwinner and worked as a labourer in a factory. Now his family's future looks bleak." Jitesh said a woman who also worked at the factory informed him about the incident. He rushed to the factory and then to the spot. Sujeet came to Delhi from Bihar's Muzaffarpur in 2021 in search of a better life. He later got married and was living with his wife.