PTI
Mumbai, May 3: The Bombay High Court on Thursday adjourned till June six the hearing in the hit-and-run case involving Alistair Pereira as he could not arrange a lawyer for himself.
The court, which slammed the prosecution, asked the Investigating Officer to probe how Pereira deposited Rs five lac in about half an hour after a lower court ordered him to pay the compensation to the victims last month.
Pereira, a young businessman, has been sentenced to six months in jail for mowing down seven pavement dwellers and injuring some others on Carter Road in suburban Bandra in November last year.
Terming the prosecution in the case as 'insensitive', a bench of Chief Justice Swatanter Kumar and SC Dharmadhikari asked the Police Commissioner to explain certain 'loopholes' in the investigation.
The Bench, in particular, asked why the other persons travelling with Pereira in his car were not examined in the trial court.
The Judges also asked the Investigating Officer to verify whether the victims have got the compensation and how they have invested the same.
The court is hearing two appeals in the case. One is a state government plea for enhancement of the sentence and the second is the court's suo motu notice on loopholes in the probe and handling of the case by the prosecution.
Case History:
High Court Does a Jessica Lal, Takes up Pereira Case
Alistair Pereira Gets 6 Months for Running Over 7
Alistair Pereira Arrested again for Forgery
Alistair Pereira Bail Plea Adjourned to Nov 23
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Six Killed, Eight Hurt in Bandra Car Mishap