TNNPanaji: A North Goa court has directed Wilson De Araujo to face trial on charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and rash and negligent driving in connection with a Dec 2024 Mahindra Thar crash that killed a father and his minor daughter.The accident occurred on Dec 29 at around 4.30pm near Vishal Mini Mart, Agasaim. The accused, while allegedly overtaking in the Thar, crossed into the opposite lane and hit an oncoming scooter, dragging it and its occupants for about 8.6m from the point of impact. Scooter rider Rajesh Naik and his daughter, Shravi, later died of their injuries, while Shravi’s mother, Ranjana, suffered grievous injuries leading to the loss of her right leg.Appearing for the accused, advocate K Raikar argued that the case should have been registered under Section 106 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for causing death by negligence, instead of Section 105 for culpable homicide not amounting to murder. He contended there was no premeditation and that the accused did not know the victims, and claimed the two-wheeler was in the middle of the road.Raikar also disputed the alcohol estimation report, stating the level cited was too high to be believable, and argued that the investigating officer failed to conduct a test identification parade. During proceedings, CCTV footage of the incident was played in open court in the presence of the public prosecutor and the defence.Referring to the scene of offence panchanama and sketch, the court noted that the Thar was “totally on its wrong side of the road”. It also cited skid marks of the Activa scooter measuring 0.86 metres and observed that the manner of overtaking and crossing to the wrong side indicated the accused had knowledge that such an act was likely to cause death.Additional sessions judge-2, Merces, Tiswadi, Shilpa S Pandit, said that considering the manner of the incident, the panchanama, sketch and statements on record—including that of co-occupant Pedro Gomes identifying the accused as the driver, and statements of Lovekush and injured Ranjana Naik—the ingredients of the offences were made out.
