Audi crash: Cops file chargesheet, recreate route taken by Gadkar

Gadkar, who was released on bail last week, had allegedly taken a circuitous route to her Chembur home that night. There were no CCTV cameras installed on the Freeway at that time and the police claim to have reconstructed her route through statements of her colleagues, witnesses to the accident as well as those of Gadkar herself.

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According to the RCF police, the chargesheet includes statements of a total of 107 witnesses. The police have also recorded the statements of 14 witnesses before a magistrate under Section 164 of the CrPC, in case they turn hostile during trial.

Medical tests showed that Gadkar’s blood samples had three times the permitted level of alcohol at the time of the accident.

Under the Motor Vehicles Act, 30 mg of alcohol is the permissible limit for driving.

“We have a key eyewitness — a taxi driver who saw the accident taking place. We have also recorded statements of two colleagues with whom Gadkar consumed alcohol. This proves that she was drunk when the accident took place,” said an officer from the RCF police station.

He added, “The chargesheet also has statements of the doctor, fire brigade officers, the chemical analysis report, medical report and the RTO report.”

According to RCF police station, the chargesheet also contains a recent forensic report, which states that flecks of paint of Gadkar’s red colour Audi Q3 was found on the taxi with which she had an head-on collision.

An officer privy to the investigation said Gadkar’s colleagues had supported the claim that she had consumed alcohol. According to the chargesheet, her colleague Rahul Dutta told the police that he met Gadkar for a business meet and had shared drinks with her at Hotel Marine Plaza, where they ran up a bill of Rs 4,300. “The duo left the hotel together, and Dutta was under the impression that Gadkar was driving back home. They parted ways near the CST station, as Dutta stays in Parel,” said the officer.

According to sources, Reliance Industries Limited’s Chief Financial Officer Alok Agarwal also gave a statement to the police, claiming that Gadkar met him at Irish House, Kala Ghoda where the lawyer consumed whiskey and ran up a bill of Rs 4,500. Agarwal’s statement is also a part of the chargesheet.

The police also included the statement of a witness whose two-wheeler Gadkar had rammed a week prior to the fatal accident.

“The witness said Gadkar had tried to settle the case by telling him that the injuries were very minor,” the officer said.

On Monday, Gadkar walked into the courtroom accompanied by her mother.

She was also spotted sobbing inside the court. Once the chargesheet was filed, she was whisked away by her lawyers and her mother.

mumbai.newsline@expressindia.com