2 days ago
Bengaluru: Truck owner imprisoned for letting unlicensed man drive
Bengaluru: In a rare but significant verdict, a city court has not only punished a truck driver for causing a fatal accident but also held the vehicle owner criminally liable for allowing an unlicensed man behind the wheel.
The tragedy took place on July 17, 2023, when truck driver J Puttaswamy, 58, a resident of Byadarahalli on Magadi Road, mowed down a scooterist on the Kadugodi Railway bridge. Poornima S Hegde — a freelance professional and mother of a young daughter — suffered fatal injuries. Puttaswamy fled the scene, abandoning the truck.
Thanks to swift action by Whitefield traffic police and the testimony of a witness who was riding just behind Poornima, the truck driver was identified and arrested.
Subsequently, the court sentenced Puttaswamy to one year and nine months of simple imprisonment, along with a fine of Rs 15,500.
But the case didn't end there. In a pointed move that shifts part of the blame to systemic negligence, the court also found truck owner KV Ramesh guilty of handing over the vehicle to Puttaswamy despite knowing that the driver's licence had expired.
"This conviction sends a strong message to all vehicle owners," a senior police officer remarked.
by Taboola
by Taboola
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"Allowing someone to drive without a valid licence isn't just irresponsible, it can be criminal."
The court sentenced Ramesh, a resident of Vijayanagar, to three months of simple imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 5,000.
Investigators said the case was bolstered by clear witness testimony and forensic evidence. "The deposition made by the eyewitness helped in securing the conviction. He identified the driver in court during the trial, explained how rash driving by Puttaswamy resulted in the fatal accident, and how Puttaswamy, without lending a helping hand to the injured woman, ran away from the place," police said.
Besides witness statements, bloodstains found on the truck matched those of the victim. "We collected bloodstains from the wheel and front portion of the truck. The same was tested at the forensic science laboratory (FSL), and reports confirmed that the bloodstains were of the victim. This matching of bloodstains also played a crucial role in securing the conviction," an investigating officer said.
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