A Mumbai court has rejected the bail application of dietitian Megha Rawal, who was arrested after allegedly hitting and killing an eight-year-old boy while driving in Bandra West last week. The court’s decision came on Monday as police continued their investigation into the fatal road accident.
Rawal was arrested on allegations of driving negligently and at high speed in the Jijamata Garden area of Bandra West. The boy, identified as Ansh Gupta, was crossing the road when the vehicle allegedly struck him. He suffered serious injuries and was taken to Holy Family Hospital, where he died during treatment, according to the police account reported by Loksatta.
After being placed in judicial custody, Rawal applied for bail and denied that she had been using a mobile phone while driving. In her application, she said she had used the phone to inform her husband after the incident, rather than speaking on it while driving. She also stated that the claim could be examined through her call data records and the mobile phone seized during the investigation.
Rawal described the incident as an unfortunate and inadvertent accident, according to the report. She claimed that the child suddenly came in front of the vehicle while crossing the road, leaving her with no opportunity to assess the situation or avoid the collision. She also denied the allegation that she had been driving recklessly or negligently.
Police opposed the bail application, arguing that the offence was serious and that the investigation was still under way. The police alleged that Rawal had been speaking on a mobile phone while driving at high speed. Their response also referred to witness accounts that the child sustained severe injuries after being hit and run over by the vehicle.
The court heard arguments from both sides before rejecting the bail plea. The ruling does not determine the final outcome of the criminal case, and the allegations against Rawal remain subject to the investigation and subsequent judicial proceedings.
The incident occurred last week near Jijamata Garden in Bandra West. Ansh was a third-standard student at Carmel School and was reportedly the only child of his family. The police investigation, including examination of witness statements, the mobile phone and call data records, is expected to determine the circumstances surrounding the collision.
