In the series of accidents involving luxury cars, the latest hit-and-run accident took place in Gurgaon on May 05, 2012. Suraj Singh Sherawat, son of Devender Sherawat, a Gurgaon based businessman and a B. Com. (Hons.) student at Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College has been name as the accused now. He surrendered in a local court before Chief Judicial Magistrate Jasbir Singh and was released on bail of Rs. 50,000.
Suraj, aged 21 years, arrived at a local court accompanied by bouncers and dramatically surrendered. Police wanted him in custody when he pleaded for bail, while he claimed to be disturbed and traumatised. He came out of the court hours later and was escorted by the bouncers to his car. The incident put massive pressure on the police to show some progress in the terrible accident involving the death of two people.
Vishal Gupta, Suraj's lawyer, said, "He is innocent, but he surrendered before the court since police issued warrants against him and notices were sent to his home." He said that Suraj was charged with rash, negligent driving and unintentional homicide, which are bailable offences.
Suraj has been charged with driving the BMW, registered under his father's name, which hit a Tata Indigo on May 05, 2012, killing Kshama Chopra Shetye, who was pregnant at that time, and her driver Sanjay Gulati. Others, including her parents and husband, were critically injured in the same accident and Sherawat was on the run ever since. The car was reportedly moving at more than 100 kmph close to IFFCO chowk, Gurgaon at the time this unfortunate event occurred.
A man named Rajesh, supposedly one of Devender Sherawat's employees, surrendered and presented an anticipatory bail application in a city court, which said that he was the one behind the wheels. This incident took place on May 12, 2012, after Sherawat told the police that it was Rajesh who was driving the car. However, the claim didn't hold water with the court.
Not being able to determine the identity of the driver of the said car and failure to follow the basics of accident investigation even after 11 days of the incident, Gurgaon police faced severe criticism from all quarters. It finally issued two notices for the accused's appearance before the court amidst demonstrations by the residents of the city and tight media watch.
The court has been requested to grant permission to get blood sample of Suraj in writing by the public prosecutor. This move was intended to match the accused's blood with the blood samples recovered from the crash site. Samples found on the spot, along with the fingerprints, have already been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), Madhuban. The police also asked for a Test Identification Parade (TIP) and recovery of accused's license. City court will follow up this case on Wednesday.
DCP, Gurgaon Police, said, “The police asked for his custody, blood samples, his clothes that he was wearing on the day. Court has reserved the order on that for tomorrow and released him in regular bail today."
ACP (DLF), Bhupendra Singh, commented, “We are waiting for tomorrow's (Wednesday) court order since the court has not yet given any direction to the accused to join investigation." He is also heading the special investigation team assigned to the case.
Suraj would be liable to a two-year-long prison term if proven guilty. The police claimed that they will press for harder penalty, while the close ones of victims feel relieved now that the case is progressing.
