A sessions court in Mumbai on Tuesday convicted a 33-year-old truck driver for the murder of a Bhiwandi businessman and the attempted murder of a toll plaza employee in 2023. The incident followed an argument over rash driving, and the driver was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Crime Captured on CCTV
The crime was recorded by CCTV cameras at the Mulund toll plaza, providing the court with clear and cogent evidence of the intentional nature of the act. Additional Sessions Judge S B Dige stated that it was well within the knowledge of the driver, Noor Shah, that running over a person with a truck could result in death. The judge declared, "It is proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused had the intention to cause injury."
Details of the Incident
The complainant, Manish Soni, who runs a utensils shop in Bhiwandi, testified that on May 11, 2023, he was traveling from Mumbai to Bhiwandi with his nephew, Bhavesh Soni. Around 9:50 PM, as they approached the Anand Nagar toll plaza in Mulund, a truck driven by Shah overtook them and scratched their car on the driver's side, causing visible damage. When the truck stopped at the toll plaza, Manish and Bhavesh got out to confront Shah. Bhavesh stood directly in front of the truck, asking Shah to step down and inspect the damage. Manish stood by the side of the truck, while several toll plaza employees gathered. Despite seeing Bhavesh in his path, Shah reportedly threatened, "Wait, I'll show you," and accelerated. While the toll plaza manager Mahendra Ghule managed to move aside, the truck ran over Bhavesh, dragging him for about 20 feet before Shah sped off toward Thane. Manish rushed Bhavesh to a hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival due to severe head injuries. Shah was arrested the next day.
Trial and Defense
During the trial, the defense argued that Shah had been falsely implicated and that the CCTV footage was blurred and unreliable. However, the judge dismissed these claims, relying on eyewitness depositions and technical evidence. The judge noted, "In this CCTV footage, the face of the driver is not visible. But the registration number is clearly visible. Toll plaza employees who were witnesses have stated the registration number in their evidence." The judge added that the investigation officer produced a copy of the toll receipt and Shah's driving license, proving that Shah was driving the truck at the relevant time. The footage also showed the truck running over Bhavesh while he stood in front of it.
Sentencing
The prosecution sought the death penalty, but the judge determined that life imprisonment was a more proportionate response given Shah's lack of a prior criminal record. Shah was also fined Rs 15,000, which is to be given to Manish as compensation.
