MP High Court Slams Police For 'Casual Investigation' In Road Accident Which Claimed 5 Lives, Grants Bail To Driver For Lack Of Evidence

The Madhya Pradesh High Court granted bail to a man accused of driving a vehicle which claimed the lives of 5 labourers and injured 11 at a construction site, observing that the investigation was carried out in a "casual manner" and that no direct incriminating material prima facie implicated the man. The bench of Justice Sanjeev S Kalgaonkar observed;"It is unfortunate that a casual investigation is conducted in such a horrific incident. Prima Facie, there is no direct incriminating material against the present applicant in the case diary. The trial would take time to conclude. The contentions advanced by the applicant have Prima Facie merit and cannot be dismissed as manifestly baseless. The veracity of prosecution and complicity of the applicant will be determined after evidence in the trial". As per the case diary, the driver of the car allegedly ran over labourers working on a road construction site near Sigma Kanha Colony, Saliwada where 5 labourers had died and over 11 were injured. On tracing the car's number plate, it was found to be registered under Deepak Soni's name, who was apprehended. He thereafter stated that his brother Lakhan Soni, the present applicant, was driving the vehicle on that day. Thus, the applicant was arrested on January 24, 2026. The senior counsel for the applicant conteded that there was no material to show complicity of the applicant. Meanwhile the counsel for the State opposed the application on account of the gravity of the alleged offence. The court noted that the material on record revealed that the applicant was implicated merely on the basis of information given by the co-accused Deepak. The bench further noted that the Investigating officer did not even bother to record the statement of one Vedika, who was travelling in the same vehicle at the time of the accident. "None of the eye witnesses has stated that the applicant was driving the vehicle at the time of alleged incident," the court said. Observing that the authorities had conducted a causal investigation into such an unfortunate and horrific accident, the court however said that the evidence prima facie shows no direct incriminating material against the applicant. It further noted that applicant is still dependent on the family and there appeared to be no possibility of him fleeing from justice. The court, without commenting on the merits of the case, granted the applicant bail on him furnishing a personal bond in the sum of Rs.1,00,000 with one surety of the same amount to the satisfaction of the trial Court, subject to conditions. Case Title: Lakhan Soni v State of Madhya Pradesh, MCRC-8566-2026For Applicant: Senior Advocate Manish Datt with Advocate Rohan Awasthi For State: Advocate Ankita KhareClick here to read/download the Order

MP High Court Slams Police For 'Casual Investigation' In Road Accident Which Claimed 5 Lives, Grants Bail To Driver For Lack Of Evidence

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MP High Court Slams Police For 'Casual Investigation' In Road Accident Which Claimed 5 Lives, Grants Bail To Driver For Lack Of Evidence

Jayanti Pahwa

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