Accused had plotted to attack 17-year-old victim in advance, police probing motive

MUMBAI: Anil Dandekar, a 23-year-old auto driver, was knocked down on Western Express Highway in Dahisar East minutes after he stabbed a girl he was reportedly pursuing. The driver of the vehicle which mowed him down sped away, and Dandekar, who had sustained serious injuries, died on the spot.
Around 9.30pm, a passing ambulance halted on WEH noticing a crowd.The ambulance driver, Manoj Hirve, spotted Dandekar’s body and a few minutes later, the girl’s silhouette in the auto. He rushed her to Shatabdi Hospital in Kandivli West aeven as a doctor present in the ambulance administered first-aid. The girl was later moved to a private hospital at Borivli.
“The victim is not in a position to speak, so we have recorded her sister’s statement. A case of attempt to murder has been registered against Dandekar who does not have a previous crime record. As he is no longer alive, we will file an abated summary before court. A separate case of causing death due to negligence has been registered against the driver of the unknown vehicle who mowed down Dandekar,” said senior inspector Prakash Jadhav of Dahisar police station.
Officials said Dandekar had planned the attack in advance as he was carrying the knife along. They will quiz the victim about what had prompted him to take the drastic step. “None of the bystanders moved Dandekar’s mutilated body to the hospital. After a local called up the control room, our officers went to the spot and moved the body,” said Jadhav.

The police will be checking if there were any closed-circuit cameras installed on the stretch where Dandekar’s accident took place. “The footage could give us clues about the vehicle that rammed into him. From the nature of injuries sustained by Dandekar, it could have been a heavy vehicle,” said an official.