Jaipur hit-and-run case: CCTV shows MLA’s son in driver’s seat

The Jaipur police has gathered crucial material evidence in BMW drink and drive case involving independent MLA Nand Kishore Maharia’s son Siddharth.

Almost a week after Siddharth’s speeding BMW rammed into an auto in the early hours of July 3, killing three people on the spot, the police has collected CCTV footage from a hotel’s bar and parking showing three young men drinking post midnight, one of them being Siddharth Maharia. In a different footage, the three men are seen getting into the car and Siddharth occupying the driver’s seat. The police has also got hold of hotel bills paid by the accused.

Although, medical test had confirmed 150 ml alcohol in Siddharth’s body which is five times the permissible limit, Siddharth and his father had claimed that he was neither drunk nor driving. Two days after the incident, in a surprising turnaround, a person named Ramesh, even filed an application before the additional chief judicial magistrate (ACJM) through the counsel for the accused claiming that he was behind the wheels.

However, the police said the latest evidence have strengthened their case against Siddharth. “His claim, that he was not driving the vehicle, has been rubbished. We have material evidence that show he had been boozing along with his friends that day, and was on the driver’s seat when the accident happened,” said Manish Agarwal, deputy commissioner of police (south).

The footage showed he was being served liquor, and was clearly seen driving to and from these places. He was clearly seen sitting in the driver’s seat. After that they roamed around the city for nearly an hour prior to the accident.

Even Siddharth’s cousin Jayant, who was with him in the car at the time of accident, has reportedly confessed to the police that both of them had gone out for a drink contrary to Siddharth’s claim that they had gone out looking for ice cream parlour.

Earlier, Siddharth’s other lie, that the auto was crossing the road at a great speed and it didn’t have headlights thus causing the accident, had also been exposed by the CCTV footage near the accident spot and eye witnesses. The mangled chassis of the BMW and the airbags suggested a powerful impact and raised questions on Siddharth’s account.

Witnesses say the auto-rickshaw was flung around 200 feet in the air. The BMW next collided with a parked police van, wounding five others, including four policemen.

“He was driving at least at 100 km an hour,” said Rajju, one of the four policemen who were injured.