Drug, alcohol tests of accused in Hyderabad Aston Martin crash return negative

Preliminary drug and drunk-driving tests of the accused in the August 16 road accident, in which a 26-year-old mall woman employee was fatally injured after being hit by a car allegedly driven by him, have returned negative, the Telangana Police said on Friday.

Ritiraj, the DCP of Balanagar Zone in the Cyberabad Police Commissionerate of Telangana, said on Friday that the blood and urine samples of the accused sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) had tested negative for drugs and alcohol.

The police official Ritiraj, said. "It was a fatal accident. After the accident, the accused party took the victim to the hospital. The police received information from the hospital. Upon receiving the information, the case was registered."

The DCP said the accused was apprehended following the incident, and both drug and drunk-driving tests were conducted, with the preliminary results coming back negative.

The DCP said that since nothing was found in the preliminary tests, police could only invoke Section 106(1) of the BNS, which carries a maximum punishment of five years, based on the facts and circumstances available at the time.

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Since the alleged offence carries a punishment of less than seven years, the investigating officer was required to assess the necessity of arrest under Section 35 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and the principles laid down by the Supreme Court in Arnesh Kumar v. State of Bihar, as per the communication.

The police official added that there was no possibility of arrest in accordance with the Arnesh Kumar judgment and the conditions under Section 35(1), following which a notice was issued to the accused.

The vehicle has been seized, and the Motor Vehicle Inspector (MVI) inspection was completed today (Friday) and the report is expected within another three to four days, DCP Ritiraj said.

"The investigation is proceeding as per law. Both tests were negative. Blood sample has also been collected and sent to the FSL," she said.

The DCP added that appropriate action would be taken if the FSL report reveals anything warranting alteration of the sections or modification of the ongoing investigation.

"If anything is found in the FSL report that warrants altering the sections or modifying the ongoing investigation, appropriate action will be taken," she said.

A 26-year-old saleswoman was killed after an Aston Martin allegedly being driven at high speed hit her while she was crossing the road in front of Inorbit Mall in Madhapur on August 16, police said.

The deceased, Bharati Mukhi, was working as a saleswoman at a store in Inorbit Mall. According to Madhapur Station House Officer K V Subbarao, Mukhi and her colleague had gone towards ITC Kohenur to collect meals at around 3 pm.