Police negligence and “special treatment” helped Geethavishnu, arrested in a road accident case, escape from Mallya Hospital, owned by the family of the late D K Audikesavulu, Vishnu’s grandfather and former MP.
The Jayanagar law and order and traffic police did not bother to take blood samples of Vishnu who was reportedly drunk and was under the influence of drugs on Thursday morning.
Vishnu’s speeding Mercedes-Benz G-Class rammed a Maruti Omni, injuring six people, including three children, on Thursday. Members of the public thrashed Vishnu and handed him over to the Jayanagar traffic police. When the police learnt that Vishnu was a grandson of Audikesavulu, throwing caution to wind, they allowed him to go home.
City Police Commissioner, T Sunil Kumar, said, “The traffic police let him go home as he had suffered injuries after the people were badly injured.
“Later, the jurisdictional police were informed about the incident. They rushed to the spot and found ganja in his car. When the police visited his house in the morning, they found that he was shifted to the ICU at Mallya Hospital. Since policemen cannot enter the ICU, they waited outside. Meanwhile, he (Vishnu) managed to escape from the emergency exit on Friday morning.”
The police commissioner, however, clarified that no officer has been suspended in the case.
‘Case registered’
The Jayanagar traffic inspector said, “Vishnu was beaten by the public when the police reached the spot. They registered a case of negligent driving and let him go.”
Assistant Commissioner of Police (Jayanagar), A C Srinivas, said, “Doctors at the hospital prevented us thrice from recording his statement. We had deployed constables at the hospital. Vishnu, however, managed to escape on Friday morning. It is the responsibility of the traffic police to subject the suspects arrested in accidents to medical tests before handing them over to us.”
‘No justification’
Supreme Court advocate
K V Dhanajay said, “There is no justification in such cases. This is the height of corruption in the police. It is a shame that the police didn’t even do the basic policing duty. The commissioner should suspend the officers and order an enquiry. If he fails to do so, then he has no moral right to continue in the post.”
He further stated, “How can the police let go of a person, who injured six people and possessed 110 grams of marijuana in his car? It is a non-bailable offence. The city has a lot of hospitals. Why didn’t they admit him to any other hospital? Why Mallya Hospital, which is owned by the family of the suspect?” the advocate asked.
Published 30 September 2017, 21:20 IST