The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) in Mumbai has directed the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) to pay a compensation of Rs 2.21 crore to the family of a 30-year-old engineer who was fatally knocked down by a state transport bus in 2023. The tribunal firmly rejected the transport body's defence, highlighting the bus driver's speeding as the clear cause of the tragic incident.
The Fatal Incident: A Routine Errand Turns Tragic
The victim, Aniket Dabholkar, a junior engineer with the Konkan Railway and a resident of Chiplun in Ratnagiri district, met with the accident on December 21, 2023. He had gone out to buy vegetables with his father. While his father was making a purchase, Aniket was standing near his parked scooter. At that moment, a speeding MSRTC bus hit him, causing grievous injuries. He later succumbed to those injuries.
MSRTC's Defence Rejected, Driver Negligence Established
During the proceedings, the MSRTC had attempted to argue that the accident occurred because a biker riding ahead of the bus had suddenly braked. However, the tribunal dismissed this claim. It relied on the police investigation, which conclusively showed that the bus driver was speeding at the time of the accident.
The tribunal's order, passed on December 12, 2025, stated unequivocally that the victim could not be held at fault as his vehicle was parked and he was standing to the side of the road. "The very fact that the driver of the offending bus drove the vehicle at a high speed and recklessly and caused the accident resulting in death of a person standing still by the side of the road, indicates negligence on part of the driver," the tribunal observed.
Calculation of the Rs 2.21 Crore Compensation
The substantial compensation amount of Rs 2.21 crore was calculated based on Aniket Dabholkar's future earning potential. At the time of the accident, he was drawing a monthly salary of Rs 1 lakh. The tribunal followed established legal principles to factor in his future prospects and arrived at the final sum.
The tribunal has directed that the major portion of the compensation be paid to his wife and son, with the remaining amount going to his parents. This order brings a measure of financial security to the family after a prolonged legal battle for justice.
The case underscores the accountability of public transport operators and the legal recourse available to victims of road accidents caused by negligence. The MACT's ruling reinforces the principle that speeding and reckless driving by commercial vehicle operators will attract severe financial and legal consequences.
