Hit-and-run cases that shook India in the last decade

In the past decade, India witnessed a series of shocking hit-and-run cases that profoundly impacted the nation. These incidents, characterised by drivers fleeing the scene after causing accidents, not only claimed lives but also raised critical questions about road safety and accountability. This is why the government has aimed to enact stringent laws, ensuring that the perpetrators are apprehended and held accountable behind bars.

According to the recently enacted hit-and-run laws, which introduce stringent penalties, including up to 10 years of imprisonment and a fine of Rs 7 lakh for drivers responsible for fatal accidents who attempt to flee the scene. While the law was implemented with good intentions, it appears that citizens are dissatisfied with it, leading to disruptions on major highways, confrontations with the police, and long queues at petrol stations.

Although the law covers categories such as death by negligence, experts emphasize the necessity for clarity in the reporting procedures and safeguards against potential misuse. Here are all the cases that shocked this decade with news of hit-and-run incidents:

In the Lodhi Colony area of Delhi, India, on January 10, 1999, tragedy struck as a speeding BMW E38 caused the loss of six lives, among them three police officers. The investigation led authorities to discover the vehicle parked at 50 Golf Links, the home of Rajeev Gupta. Subsequently, it emerged that Sanjeev Nanda, the grandson of the Indian Navy Chief and son of Suresh Nanda, an Indian arms dealer, was behind the wheel. He had been driving back from a party accompanied by Siddhartha Gupta, Rajeev Gupta's son, and Manik Kapoor.

In 2015, a prominent lawyer, Janhavi Gadkar, was involved in a fatal hit-and-run case in Mumbai. Driving under the influence of alcohol, she crashed her car into a taxi, leading to the death of two individuals. This case not only highlighted the dangers of drunk driving but also emphasized the need for stricter regulations to prevent such incidents.

One of the most high-profile cases involved Bollywood actor Salman Khan. In 2002, Khan was accused of running over a group of people sleeping on a pavement in Mumbai. The incident resulted in one fatality and several injuries. After a prolonged legal battle, Khan was convicted in 2015 under the new hit-and-run law. The case was one of the most heavily debated cases in India, and it dominated the news headlines for several years to come.

In 2016, a Mercedes hit a man named Siddhartha Sharma. The driver of this car was just 4 days short of turning 18, and thus the Supreme Court announced that the accused would be treated as a juvenile. Additionally, the juvenile driver responsible for the fatal accident had a history of reckless driving, resulting in a case of culpable homicide.