2008 BMW hit-and-run case: Utsav Bhasin gets 2-years in prison
What's the story
Utsav Bhasin, a businessman's son was sentenced to 2-years in prison for the 2008 BMW hit-and-run case. The court also imposed fine of Rs. 10 lakh for the family of the deceased and Rs. 2 lakh for the injured. Additional sessions judge Sanjeev Kumar said he wants the government to take steps for enhancing the sentence for the offence of causing death by negligence.
Information
2008 BMW hit-and-run case
Son of Haryana-based businessman, Utsav Bhasin, then 19 was driving his BMW car when he hit two motorcyclists near Moolchand flyover in Delhi on September 11, 2008. He was arrested but later released after giving two sureties of Rs. 20,000 each.
Court's directions
Court wants government to increase sentence under rash driving
The court said it wants the government to take steps for increasing the sentence for negligent driving. The court said a copy of this order would be sent to PM Modi to look into the sentence because "sabka saath sabka vikas" is possible only when the people do not die in road accidents. It also expressed displeasure over no road for bicycles.
Analysis
India accounts for 10% of global road accidents: Reports
While pronouncing Utsav Bhasin guilty and sentencing him to 2-years in prison, the court cited the report of International Road Federation, which states that India accounts for 10% of the global road accidents. According to statistics, almost 16 children die on Indian roads daily. UP accounts for the maximum number of road crash deaths, with two people succumbing to it every hour.
Cases
Other recent cases of hit-and-run
In April 2016, four people were injured when a speeding BMW rammed into them near a Noida stadium's gate in the NCR region. Also in another case, a 32-year-old marketing executive was run down by a speeding Mercedes sedan in Delhi's Civil Lines area. In January this year, a 24-year-old driving a BMW rammed into an Uber car thereby killing the driver.