A senior Finance Ministry official who died in a horrific BMW hit-and-run in Delhi last September could potentially have been saved, as he remained alive for at least 15 minutes after the crash, the Delhi Police has stated in its detailed chargesheet. The revelation points to a critical loss of time in providing medical aid.
Chargesheet Reveals Critical Survival Window
Navjot Singh, 57, a Deputy Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs, was struck by a BMW allegedly driven by Gaganpreet Makkar on the night of September 14 near the Delhi Cantonment Metro Station on Ring Road. His wife was also injured in the incident. The police chargesheet, which runs over 400 pages and cites 34 witnesses, includes a damning medical finding.
According to sources familiar with the document, the post-mortem report indicates that Singh's survival time was at least 15 minutes following the collision. Investigators have noted that this duration was medically significant and that timely intervention could have saved his life.
Questionable Actions After the Accident
The sequence of events after the crash has come under intense scrutiny. Police sources state that after the accident, the accused, Gaganpreet Makkar, allegedly directed a taxi driver to take the injured couple to Nulife Hospital. This facility was located nearly 19–20 kilometers from the accident site, a journey that took about 23 minutes.
This decision is particularly questionable as several other hospitals were situated within a 10–15 minute radius of the crash location. Adding a layer of suspicion, the investigation found that the owner of Nulife Hospital is a cousin of the main accused, Gaganpreet Makkar.
Legal Framework and Ongoing Investigations
The Delhi Police has filed the chargesheet under multiple sections of the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including rash driving, act endangering life, culpable homicide not amounting to murder, and causing disappearance of evidence. The court is yet to take cognizance of the document.
Key aspects of the probe are still underway. A report on the BMW's speed has been sought from the manufacturer, while a separate forensic examination is being conducted by the Forensic Science Laboratory to independently ascertain the vehicle's speed at the moment of impact.
Police have also recorded statements from the ambulance driver and assistant under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), finding no negligence on their part. The statement of a Delhi Transport Corporation bus driver connected to the event sequence is also on record.
Case Background and Accused
The BMW involved in the fatal crash was allegedly being driven by Gaganpreet Makkar, who was accompanied by her husband, Parikshit Makkar, and their two children at the time. Gaganpreet was earlier granted bail, with the court noting that CCTV footage had altered the initial version of events in the FIR. She has also been booked separately for allegedly tampering with evidence.
The chargesheet is a comprehensive document, and sources indicate that additional witnesses may be cited in a supplementary filing. The case highlights grave concerns about road safety, accountability, and the urgent need for prompt emergency response in urban accidents.
