Bandra-Worli sea link accident: Accused got challan for speeding on sea link just 5 days before

The driver who crashed into stationary vehicles on Bandra Worli Sea Link, leading to five deaths and injuries to eight others, was issued a challan for speeding on the sea link just five days before the accident. A background check of the accused, Irfan Abdul Rahim Bilkiyas, has revealed that he has 28 unpaid traffic challans worth Rs 28,800. A majority of these are for jumping signals. The 40-year-old accused, who was driving an SUV, was produced before the magistrate court in Bhoiwada on Thursday and has been remanded in police custody till Friday.

Past violations

Data from the traffic department, accessed by mid-day, revealed that Bilkiyas has 28 unpaid traffic challans worth Rs 28,800 for various violations including jumping signals, speeding. The most recent challan was from September 30 which was issued to him for speeding on the Bandra Worli Sea Link. This incident, too, took place around the same time as Wednesday's accident.

The accused, Irfan Bilkiyas, outside the Bhoiwada court on Thursday. Pic/Satej Shinde

Meanwhile, Worli cops have sought data from the speedcam installed at the sea link to find out the exact speed of the vehicle at the time of the accident. Cops also suspect that he was under the influence at the time of the accident and sent his blood samples to the Forensic Laboratory in Kalina for alcohol and drug check. The local police station has been alerted to find out if he was involved in any drug abuse case earlier.

Also Read: Bandra Worli Sea Link road accident: Accused sent to one day police custody

Court hearing

The Worli police had moved the remand application before the court and was represented by Public Prosecutor Advocate Bharti Bhosale. The police claimed that they needed to verify why the accused got distracted, as per his claims before the police, which led to the accident. They also said that they need a detailed statement of the accused about his whereabouts on the night of the accident.

The accused's father, Abdul Bilkiyas, with Advocate Vikram Chavan

Advocates Vikram Chavan and Chandani Bhatt from CK Legal, for Bilkiyas, opposed the application saying that the accident was not a deliberate one. They mentioned that the accused, too, sustained injuries and had helped the injured get into the ambulance and police van after the accident.

Citing that the accused is a diabetes patient, Advocate Chavan said that as Bilkiyas has suffered a fracture which could lead to gangrene if not operated. He also mentioned that the accused needs to get a CT scan apart from getting broken glass shards removed from his body. Bilkiyas, who was present at the court, could not stand for long and sat down with the permission of the judge. After hearing both sides, the magistrate sent him to police custody but also asked Worli police to ensure that he gets necessary medical treatment.

‘Not deliberate'

Bilkiyas's father Abdul told mid-day, "Everyone knows that he hasn't done it deliberately. He also got injured in the accident. Allah will bring him justice. I believe in our judicial system too."

Worli cops' goof-up

Meanwhile, it has come to notice that the investigating officer of the case was not present at the court during the hearing. Instead, a probationary sub-inspector was sent to the court without any briefing on why the cops sought custody of the accused.

When asked, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 3) Yogesh Kumar Gupta, said, "I will check why a junior officer was sent from the police station instead of the investigating officer. I will also check why the investigating officer was not present at the court."