Hyderabad: BRS former MLA Mohammed Shakeel’s son, Mohammed Raheel Aamir, who has been based in Dubai since 2023, has surrendered before the Jubilee Hills police in connection with a 2022 fatal hit-and-run incident that claimed the life of a balloon seller’s infant son. Acting on directions from the high court, police questioned him and subsequently released him on a personal bond. Police said Raheel, 22, returned to Hyderabad from Dubai three days ago and appeared before the investigating officer on Friday.Following his surrender, the police issued him a notice and granted station bail upon submission of a personal bond, in line with the court’s instructions. He has been directed to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation. Jubilee Hills inspector U Srinivasulu Reddy confirmed Raheel was questioned over two days, on Friday and Saturday.The case dates back to March 17, 2022, when an SUV allegedly driven by Raheel struck Kajal, a balloon seller, on Road No. 45 in Jubilee Hills. While Kajal sustained injuries, her two-and-a-half-month-old son died after being thrown onto the road upon impact.Police said Raheel fled the scene immediately after the accident. His two friends in the vehicle—Syed Afnan Ahmed, a BBA student, and Mohanned Maaz Moheet Khan—also reportedly fled, abandoning the SUV.Initially, police booked Afnan after he claimed to be behind the wheel at the time of the accident.The case saw fresh developments in Dec 2023 following a separate incident in which a BMW allegedly driven by Raheel crashed into a barricade near Praja Bhavan. During that investigation, police discovered that Raheel had allegedly attempted to make another individual take responsibility for the incident. CCTV footage later identified him as the driver, leading to the registration of a case and the suspension of the Punjagutta inspector for dereliction of duty.This development prompted the West Zone police to reopen the 2022 Jubilee Hills fatal accident case. Although a chargesheet had already been filed against Afnan, investigators sought the court’s permission to conduct further inquiry.Subsequently, Afnan and Maaz were re-examined, and both allegedly stated that Raheel was driving the SUV at the time of the crash. Investigators also obtained WhatsApp conversations among the three, which reportedly indicated Raheel was behind the wheel. Maaz’s statement was recorded before a magistrate under Section 164 of the CrPC.Raheel was formally named as an accused in 2024. With court’s permission, police altered the charge from Section 304-A (causing death by negligence) to Section 304 (Part II) (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), citing allegations that he was using a mobile phone at the time of the accident. By then, Raheel had moved to Dubai, prompting authorities to issue a lookout circular.On March 25, the high court granted him anticipatory bail and directed him to surrender before the Jubilee Hills police on or before April 19.
