The Delhi High Court on Friday ruled that driving at high speed does not always mean the driver was “rash and negligent.” The court gave this verdict while acquitting a man accused of killing two pedestrians in 2012, according to The Times of India. The accused, who worked as a car cleaner, had been sentenced to 18 months in jail in 2022. He appealed the verdict, stating that he had taken the car for a ride but lost control, leading to the accident that killed two pedestrians.

The man argued in his appeal that he lost control of the car due to a sudden tyre burst. Justice Banerjee reviewed witness statements, which mentioned that the vehicle was speeding but did not confirm reckless driving. The high court examined testimonies from four witnesses. While they all stated that the car was moving fast, none could prove that the driver was careless or negligent.

While granting the man's appeal, the judge noted that driving at high speed alone does not automatically mean the driver was "rash and negligent." The judge also criticized the prosecution for gaps in the case, stating that it failed to prove "beyond reasonable doubt" that the man's reckless driving led to the deaths of two pedestrians.

The court pointed out that the prosecution did not take into account crucial factors such as the time of the accident, the condition of the vehicle, and the possibility of a tyre burst, as claimed by the petitioner. The judge further clarified that for a conviction, it must be established beyond a doubt that the accused’s actions were not just speeding but involved reckless or negligent driving that directly caused the deaths. The court stated that there was no concrete evidence on record proving that the petitioner was driving in a "rash and negligent" manner.

 

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