Current provisions weak and old, Centre should amend Motor Vehicle Act to punish those causing intentional accidents: AICC Secretary on Vadodara car crash

On March 13, a car, allegedly being driven by 21-year-old Chaurasiya, had crashed into three two-wheelers, killing a woman and injuring several others in the Karelibaug area. Chaurasiya was sent to judicial custody on Monday.

In Vadodara city on Wednesday, Ojha met the Commissioner of Police, Narasimha Komar, to express “concern that the accused may be let off lightly” as the existing provisions of the MV Act were “weak and old”.

Ojha told mediapersons that the Union government had not amended the provisions to deal with accidents in modern times when “intoxicated” drivers are “intentionally” putting the life of other people at risk.

Ojha said, “The (NDA) Central government amended the penal laws last year and proclaimed that archaic laws of the colonial times had been done away with. But they did not introduce stricter sections for road accidents, especially in today’s times, to deal with cases such as the Vadodara crash, where one man, under the clear influence of alcohol or drugs, has run over so many persons and even made a mockery of the law by screaming aloud… They (NDA) have 160 MPs, they can amend these laws to make them relevant and deterrent in today’s times…”

In a video of the Vadodara accident that later went viral, accused Chaurasiya could purportedly be seen stepping out of the car and screaming “another round” besides religious chants.

Ojha said that the Vadodara accident is a reminder that road accidents that occur due to intoxicated drivers cannot be treated in the same way as those arising out of genuine mistakes.

Ojha said, “Look at his (Chaurasiya’s) body language, following the crash. Would I, if someone from my family were to be killed by a drugged driver like that, be satisfied with the penal provisions currently in place? The government ought to make a differentiation now — an accident is different from an intentional accident. This (Vadodara crash) was not an accident. It was a murder… No child or youngster should be allowed to commit such murders under the influence of intoxication.”

On meeting Komar on Wednesday, Ojha said that the Congress was “satisfied” that the police had used as much power as it was given by the statute in dealing with the case. He said, “In such cases, when law is taken for granted and trampled upon, the police are tied up under the processes of weak laws… There should be separate laws for such cases. There has to be a fear of police and it is possible only if the government gives the police a free hand… We have trust in the judicial system but if the file that is being sent to the judicial system is under weak provisions, (what can be done?)…”

He further said, “If the police invoke any such sections of law that are not relevant to the process to be followed in the case, it will not stand in court… You have removed the blindfold of the Lady of Justice but you should be able to see. The person to whom the car belongs or the one who has given him (Chaurasiya) the drug should also be booked.”

Ojha also questioned the availability of drugs and alcohol in Gujarat despite a Prohibition Law being in force. “Why is alcohol being sold here? Why are drugs available? The king is sitting somewhere else, but Vadodara is being used… People have voted for (PM Narendra) Modi and (Union Home Minister) Amit Shah but those who have been given power here (in Gujarat) are not those who believe in law. It is an open mockery of the judicial process… We are not talking about politics… It is in human interest. The government has to understand the sentiments of the people,” he added.