In a bizarre twist of events, traffic cops in Ahmedabad, Gujarat have reportedly forced a man to file an FIR against his deceased son, under section 279 of the IPC, affirming that “rash driving” was responsible for his death. The son, 28-year-old Sanjay Patel, however, had died after two cows came in the way of his motorcycle on an Ahmedabad highway in September 2018.
According to a Times of India report by Sarfaraz Shaikh, the collision that occurred near Chharodi on SG Road haemorrhaged Sanjay’s brain. He is survived by his wife Anita. Mahesh Patel, the father, told TOI that he was summoned by A-Division traffic police, which made him sign the FIR. He registered the FIR some time ago, the report added.
“I was told to sign the FIR which said that my son was responsible for his own death because he was speeding,” Mahesh said, adding, “The stray cows suddenly appeared on the road, and my son did not have any time to react. Isn’t it strange that instead of punishing cattle owners who let their animals stray, my dead son was blamed?”
As per the report, Sanjay’s death is fit for investigation under the accidental death provisions. The traffic department’s deputy commissioner of police (administration), Tejas Patel, speaking to ToI, said, “Across the 14 traffic police stations in the city, not a single case has been registered under provisions of accidental death,” adding that so far only FIRs under various sections of road accidents have been registered.
Tejas Patel further said it would be not easy for police to trace the owners of animals responsible for such accidents. “Earlier, only three traffic police stations were authorised to register road-accident FIRs, but now all 14 can do so.”
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