Investigators probing the hit-and-run incident that claimed the life of an elderly woman and left her nine-year-old granddaughter in a state of coma are baffled by suspect Meethil Punnathil Shajeel’s motivation for hiding the crime, as he faces repatriation from Dubai to India.
The accident occurred on February 17 on the National Highway at Chorode in Vadakara. Driving at high speed, Shajeel reportedly hit 68-year-old Baby and her granddaughter Drishana while they were crossing the road around 10 p.m. Baby was killed instantly, while Drishana, a Class V student at Mundayad L.P. School, is currently battling for her life at the Government Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode.
Crime Branch Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) V.V. Benny, who led the special investigation team, said that Shajeel, a native of Purameri near Vadakara, was behind the wheel during the fatal accident and fled to Dubai on March 14.
“Initially, he was evasive about the accident, but eventually, he confessed that he was the driver. Perhaps he feared that the incident might jeopardise his chances of obtaining a new visa to Dubai,” Mr. Benny said.
At the time of the incident, his wife Shamla and their two children were reportedly in the vehicle. “She confirmed the incident two days ago and also revealed that her husband had explicitly instructed her to remain silent about it,” the DySP said.
Shajeel had previously worked at a supermarket in Kuwait. He would now be charged under Section 304A (causing death by negligence or a rash act not amounting to culpable homicide) of the Indian Penal Code, Mr. Benny said.
Upon his repatriation, Shajeel will be arrested and subsequently produced in court, where he is expected to be released on bail. The punishment for the offence is imprisonment of either description for a term that may extend to two years, or a fine, or both.
Regarding the nearly 10-month marathon probe, Mr. Benny said the case proved more challenging than a murder investigation. “The only lead was a vague description from an autorickshaw driver of a car with a license plate beginning with KL-18,” he added.
Lacking concrete evidence, investigators reviewed CCTV footage within a 40 km radius. The probe narrowed down to 19,000 vehicles sold since 2011, then further to white cars in Chorode and Kainatty.
Investigators examined 500 spare parts stores and scrutinised 50,000 phone calls. “We recorded the statements of around 5,000 people, both officially and unofficially,” Mr. Benny said.
Finally, investigators zeroed in on three white cars. One, linked to Shajeel, was allegedly found at his residence on the night of the accident. Further investigation revealed that he had reportedly repaired the damaged car, filed a fraudulent insurance claim, and absconded to Dubai.
To support his claim, Shajeel reportedly submitted a photo of the vehicle after staging a minor collision with a wall. The insurance claim he submitted provided crucial evidence in cracking the case, Mr. Benny said.
Published – December 08, 2024 12:37 am IST