Anjali hit-and-run case: Police add murder charges against accused

The move comes after MHA asked the Delhi Police to consider if the murder section can be added to the case

NEW DELHI | Updated: 18 January, 2023 2:51 am IST

The accident took place in the wee hours of January 1 when Anjali’s scooter was hit by the Baleno car. Due to the impact, she got stuck beneath the car while her companion Nidhi was tossed off the pillion seat.

Anjali Singh was killed by a Baleno car in the wee hours of January 1

Seventeen days after a 20-year-old woman was hit and dragged to death under the wheels of a Maruti Baleno in Sultanpuri, the Delhi Police added IPC Section 302 (murder) to the FIR registered in the matter.

Until now, the Delhi Police was investigating the case with sections of culpable homicide and causing death by negligence.

The family of the victim – Anjali Singh – had demanded the addition of Section 302 to the FIR. They also held multiple protests to support their demands.

The Delhi Police face uproar as several sections have also demanded the invocation of murder, citing the way the accused dragged Anjali for 13 kilometres despite knowing that she was stuck under the wheels of their car on New Year’s night.

“As per the evidence – physical, oral and forensic – section 302 of the IPC has been invoked in the present case,” Delhi Police said.

The police also moved MACT (Motor Accident Claim Tribunal) for an early grant of compensation to the victim’s family. “After examination of the facts and circumstances available on 01.01.2023, a case vide FIR No. 02/2023 u/s 279/304A IPC was registered and during further investigation Section 304/120B/34 IPC was also added to the case on the same day, i.e., 01.01.2023,” the police said.

A Delhi Police officer said that the purpose of inducting Section 304A of the IPC was also to ensure maximum benefit to the victim’s family from the MACT since the victim was the only breadwinner for the family.

“First Accident Report (FAR) was sent to concern MACT. Accident Claim Form No. 54 has also been filled up. Delhi Police has been filling out the compensation claim in the MACT, with best efforts to get the maximum amount as compensation for the deceased family members so that the survivor would be taken care of,” said the officer.

Last week, a fact-finding report on the incident was also submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) by the Special Commissioner of Police, Shalini Singh. The MHA also recommended the Delhi Police suspend 11 officers for dereliction of duty. It also asked the Delhi Police to consider whether the murder section could be added to the case.

A total of seven persons, including four occupants of the car, were arrested in the case. One of the accused has already gotten bail. The police officials said that the four occupants would be charged with murder in the case. However, the other three will be charged for tampering with the evidence.