Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Beltangady, Dec 25: A KSRTC bus driver has been sentenced and fined in connection with an accident that claimed the life of a biker and left the pillion rider injured.
The incident occurred on December 20, 2022, near Kakkinje in Laila village of Beltangady taluk. Vijay, a resident of Vagga in Bantwal taluk, was riding his bike from Ujire toward Beltangady when a KSRTC bus collided with him. Vijay sustained severe injuries and succumbed to them, while the pillion rider, Shailesh, sustained injuries and filed a complaint with the Beltangady traffic police station.
Vijay
Following the investigation and trial, the Beltangady principal civil judge and JMFC Court, presided over by Judge Sandesh K, found the accused bus driver, Ashok Bhosale (59) from Dharwad, guilty. The court sentenced him under IPC Section 279 (rash and negligent driving) to one month of simple imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 1,000, with an additional one-month imprisonment in case of non-payment. Under IPC Section 337 (causing hurt by endangering life), he was sentenced to one month of simple imprisonment, a Rs 500 fine, and an additional 15 days imprisonment if the fine was unpaid. Furthermore, under IPC Section 304(A) (causing death by negligence), the court imposed two years of rigorous imprisonment, along with a Rs 1,000 fine and an additional one-month imprisonment if the fine was not paid.
Assistant public prosecutor Ashitha M A represented the government in the case. Head constable Vijayakumar Rai assisted in the investigation, while Beltangady traffic police PSI Odiyappa Gowda and court personnel Nicholas Pinto and Sunil contributed to the case proceedings.