Sion-Panvel highway VP gets reprieve

Mumbai: The Bombay high court has granted two weeks’ interim protection from arrest to Pavneet Singh Sethi, vice-president of Sion-Panvel highway private limited. Sethi faces arrest for not carrying out repair work of the said road, which caused fatal accidents and two deaths. The court has asked the state government to file a reply on the anticipatory bail application (ABA) filed by Sethi, and asked Sethi to pay Rs 50,000 and two sureties as fine.

A single bench of the Bombay high court comprising justice Revati Mohite-Dere was hearing the ABA filed by Sethi. According to the application, the Nerul police of Navi Mumbai registered a case against Sethi under various sections of IPC, including endangering life of another person, causing grievous hurt, causing death by negligence, and culpable homicide not amounting to murder read with common intention.

According to the applicant,the Nerul police registered the case against him due to non-maintenance of the Sion-Panvel highway. The said spot had witnessed 35 minor accidents, and five major accidents in which two lives were lost. The applicant argued the said work could not be carried out due to a dispute between the company and the government, as toll for small vehicles was stopped.

The applicant’s counsel Ashok Mundargi argued that no offence punishable under section 304-II (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) stood against Sethi, and that he should be granted anticipatory bail till the chargesheet is filed.

The state had sought time to file a detailed reply against Sethi. The court then granted interim protection to Sethi till September 29 and asked him to furnish a personal bond of '50,000 and report to the Nerul police station on September 18, 19 and 20.