Animator battles for life,accused also faces drunk driving charge

Bollywood animator Charu Khandal (26),who suffered multiple injuries after a Honda City crushed the autorickshaw she was in early on Sunday,was battling for life on Monday at Kokilaben Dirubhai Ambani Hospital in Andheri.

Bollywood animator Charu Khandal (26),who suffered multiple injuries after a Honda City crushed the autorickshaw she was in early on Sunday,was battling for life on Monday at Kokilaben Dirubhai Ambani Hospital in Andheri. Khandals friend Vikrant Goyal underwent surgery on his spinal chord and ribs around noon.

According to Khandals sister Ritu,there was a minor improvement in Khandals condition but she was not yet stable. Owing to her fragile condition,doctors have not been able to perform surgery on Khandal yet. There is no sensation in the lower half of Charus body,due to which the doctors are unable to operate, said Ritu.

The incident took place in Oshiwara around 1 am,when Khandal,an animator with Shah Rukh Khans Red Chillies Entertainment,was on her way home from a party in Juhu to celebrate the award her team won for special effects in Ra.One. She was travelling in an autorickshaw with Ritu (21) and Goyal (27),when a speeding Honda City rammed into their rickshaw.

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Initially,the police booked the driver of the car Manoj Gautam (39),a resident of Lokhandwala,for rash driving. However,before being produced in court,the police also slapped the charge of drink driving against him. After the medical reports arrived,we also booked him for drunk driving. He was produced in the holiday court and released on a bond of Rs 5,000, said senior inspector Dilip Rupawate.

Khandals friends and relatives have started a campaign on social networking sites,demanding that accused in such cases should get maximum punishment.

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