A year on, victim’s family awaits justice

The family of Salim Saboowala, who died in a road accident on the Eastern Freeway in June 2015 after lawyer Janhavi Gadkar’s car allegedly rammed into his taxi, has expressed frustration with the tardy pace of judicial process in the case. According to a family member punishing the culprit would at least give a sense of justice to the family.

“Salim uncle was my mentor and I used to approach him to take advice before taking any important decision in life and I have lost my guardian,” said Faisal Quadri, cousin of the deceased Saboowala.

“His immediate family members have lost all hopes. They do not want to talk to anyone on this issue,” he added.

He said loss of an earning member had taken its toll on the family but it was reluctant to speak about it.

Mr Quadri, who works abroad has been keeping track of the case. “Sometime ago, the court was informed that the prosecution wanted to appoint a special public prosecutor in the case and we were glad to hear that but now I read some news which said that the police now had no power to appoint a special public prosecutor and it has disappointed us because now we are not sure if this decision would create any hurdle in the appointment of special public prosecutor in this case,” added Mr Quadri.

He also said that the authorities should pay more attention on steps to prevent accident instead of focussing on making arrangements of collecting evidence post accident like installing CCTV cameras. “Installing CCTVs cannot prevent mishaps,” he added.