In Chennai, a prominent hit-and-run incident recently came to light one month after the unfortunate Porsche car accident in Pune. This particular case revolves around the daughter of a Rajya Sabha MP who allegedly ran over a man sleeping on a pavement in the capital city of Tamil Nadu using her BMW vehicle.
The news of this hit-and-run incident has sparked outrage and condemnation from the public, with many calling for justice to be served. The daughter of the Rajya Sabha MP has been arrested and charged with reckless driving, driving under the influence, and causing grievous hurt by an act endangering life or personal safety.
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What was the Allegation against the Daughter?
Beeda Madhuri, the daughter of Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) leader and Rajya Sabha MP from Andhra Pradesh, Beeda Masthan Rao, reportedly drove her car over a 22-year-old painter, Surya who was sleeping on a pavement in Chennai’s Besant Nagar on Monday night. Following the incident, Madhuri was taken into custody by the Traffic Investigation Wing (TIW) of the police and was subsequently granted station bail on Tuesday.
Madhuri, the daughter of MP Rao was driving on the night of 17th June and was accompanied by her friend, another woman. The daughter allegedly ran her BMW over the man who was sleeping in an inebriated state on a pavement on Varadharaj road. The deceased’s identity was reported as S.Surya, a painter and resident of a fishing hamlet, Urur kuppam, near Besant Nagar.
During the primary investigation, it was found that Surya went to sleep on the pavement in Tiger Varadachari Salai, two km away from his house after he had a fight with his wife on Monday Night which deliberately made him get drunk. They were married only eight months and concerning his safety his wife searched for Surya and found him sleeping on the pavement. A high-end car turned the road and ran over her husband when she moved aside to call her relatives to help her get him back to the house.
What Happened After the Accident?
Officials have reported that Madhuri, MP’s daughter hastily departed from the scene of the accident, while her friend engaged in a dispute with the onlookers assembled by the sidewalk. Eventually, Madhuri’s friend also departed, and a group of individuals transported Surya to a nearby Govt Royapettah Hospital. Tragically, he passed away from his injuries.
After examining the CCTV footage, law enforcement authorities uncovered that the vehicle had been registered in Puducherry and was associated with the BMR (Beeda Masthan Rao) Group. Consequently, Madhuri, the daughter was apprehended and subsequently released on bail while still at the police station.
During their investigation, it was found that the driver was not under the influence of alcohol. Madhuri, the MP’s daughter was charged by the TIW unit under section 304(a) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for causing death by negligence, a bailable offense, in addition to other sections of traffic rule infractions.
Madhuri is a member of a prosperous family. Her father, BM Rao, transitioned from being an MLA to a Rajya Sabha MP in 2022. In December 2019, Rao left the Telugu Desam Party to join the YSR Congress. He is recognized as a leader of the Yadava community, which is classified as a backward class, as reported by The Week. Furthermore, he serves as the chairman of the BMR Group, a company engaged in shrimp farming and export operations across Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
What is the Punishment for Hit-and-Run in India?
Accused in hit-and-run cases are tried under Section 304A of the Indian Penal Code and face penalties of up to two years in jail upon identification. However, the IPC will be replaced by Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), the new official criminal code which will come into effect from 1 July.
Under the BNS, there is a stricter punishment for hit-and-run cases, with the accused facing imprisonment for up to 10 years with a fine. The BNS has two distinct categories under the umbrella of “causing death by negligence”. The first category addresses causing death through any rash or negligent act that does not amount to culpable homicide. Offenders in this category may face imprisonment for up to five years and a fine, reports The Economic Times.
The second category deals with causing death through rash and negligent driving, amounting to culpable homicide. If the individual flees without reporting the incident to a police officer or magistrate, they could face up to 10 years of imprisonment and a fine.
How Common are Hit-and-Run Cases in India?
According to data released by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, India reported over 460,000 road accidents in 2022, up 12 percent from the previous year. Of these, hit-and-run accidents accounted for over 67,000. Every seventh road accident in the country is a hit-and-run.
Tamil Nadu reported the highest number of road accidents in 2022 at 64,105 followed by Madhya Pradesh and Kerala. “Hit from back” led to the largest number of deaths from accidents in 2022, at 19.5 percent, followed by “hit and run” and “head-on collision”, which accounted for 18.1 percent and 15.7 percent, respectively, according to a report in Scroll.
India reports the highest number of road accident deaths globally, according to the transport ministry based on data from the International Road Federation. The MP daughter case was no exception in India.
Conclusion
The incident has once again brought attention to the issue of road safety and the need for stricter laws and enforcement to prevent such tragic incidents from occurring. It has also raised questions about the privilege and entitlement of the wealthy and powerful in society, who often believe they are above the law.
As the investigation into the incident continues, the victim’s family is demanding justice and compensation for the harm caused to their loved one and gathered at J-5 Shastri Nagar Police Station. The case has become a symbol of inequality and injustice in society, where the powerful can often escape accountability for their actions.
