GUWAHATI: A 29-year-old wedding planner and former model was granted bail within 24 hours of her arrest for allegedly knocking down eight PWD workers with her speeding car while driving in an “inebriated” condition in Guwahati on Saturday. Questions were raised on the role of police after she managed to secure bail so soon.
Meanwhile, the labourers are currently undergoing treatment in GMCH, and the condition of one of the victims is stated to be critical.
A Femina Miss India finalist, 2016 and a resident of of Beltola Survey, Rajkanya Baruah was driving her car while the night curfew was in force, claimed the traffic police on Saturday. However, she dismissed the allegations through a series of Instagram posts on Sunday and said no case has been registered “for hit and run” or “drink driving” against her.
A senior police officer at Dispur Police station told TOI, “We produced the woman before a local court, which granted her bail. A case under section 279/338/294/353 of IPC was registered in this regard. We have added the section based on the FIR details. We can’t comment on the court order.”
Asked why she was not booked under section 185 of the Motor Vehicles Act for “drink driving”, as well as violation of Covid-19 protocol under the provisions of the Disaster Management Act and Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code, police blamed the “loopholes” in the FIR, which was filed by the traffic police.
However, traffic police official Robin Phukan said, “Prima facie she was drunk. Let us wait for the rest result.”
