Gustad in jail till June 10

Film director Kaizad Gustad and his assistant director Ashish Udeshi were arrested early this morning for culpable homicide not amounting to...

Film director Kaizad Gustad and his assistant director Ashish Udeshi were arrested early this morning for culpable homicide not amounting to murder in the case of crew member Nadia Khan’s death on May 25.

They were shooting for Mumbai Central at Mahalaxmi station when Khan was hit by a train. The duo had lied that she had died in a road accident.

The metropolitan court in Girgaum bolstered the earlier charge against Gustad and Udeshi which was a bailable offence. They have also been charged with destroying evidence and giving false information to a public servant. The two will remain in custody till June 10.

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Constable Darshana Vaithi, who had got a promotion last night, was also arrested for disappearance of evidence and giving false information. Vaithi had also accompanied an injured Nadia and her crew members to the hospital. She told the magistrate that she was poor and could not afford a lawyer. She was released on a bail of Rs 6,000.

Her colleagues said she was being made a scapegoat: ‘‘Everybody was aware of this accident. Vaithi informed Station Superintendent (SS) Ashokan at Mahalaxmi station, which means this accident was noted in the register.’’

Senior Inspector R.G. Mahatre said: ‘‘During the interrogation, Vaithi told us that she was informed by the SS to go to the spot where Nadia was injured.’’

Railway PR officer Shailendra Kumar said: ‘‘The SS had informed the control room that he was busy with an inspection and was not aware of the case.’’ But a colleague of Vaithi’s says: ‘‘As a rule, women constables cannot go anywhere without her senior’s permission.’’