Gujarat high court rejects Tathya Patel’s bail petition

AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat high court on Friday rejected the regular bail application filed by Tathya Patel in connection with the Iskcon flyover accident, in which nine persons were killed on July 20.

Tathya along with his father, Pragnesh Patel, was arrested the next evening and Tathya has been charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder and an attempt for the same under sections 304 and 308 of the IPC along with other charges for rash and negligent driving, causing hurt to people and under the provisions o the Motor Vehicle Act.

On behalf of Tathya, it was submitted that because of an earlier accident, people were present on the bridge past midnight. Normally, a person would not expect a person on the bridge. He was not trying to run away from his negligent liability. His was not a case of drunken driving or a case of hit and run.

His lawyer urged the court to consider the case as that of negligence instead of culpable homicide.

Tathya’s advocate submitted that the 20-year-old is not a hardened criminal and a danger to the society. The court may impose suitable conditions with regard to this driving and grant him bail and see that his conduct would be improved.

Opposing the bail application the prosecution highlighted the severity of the offence and Tathya’s alleged involvement in road accidents prior to the Iskcon flyover accident.

After hearing the arguments presented by both sides, Justice M R Mengdey said that he was not inclined to grant bail in this case.