Pune road rage: Mane held guilty
The district and sessions court in Pune on Wednesday held former MSRTC driver Santosh Mane guilty of murder and other charges. The quantum of punishment will be pronounced on Monday.
Mane, who was reportedly depressed, went on a road rampage on the morning of January 25 last year, when he drove the bus on the wrong side, eventually killing nine and injuring 30 others. Mane took the bus from Swargate bus depot and drove for about half-an-hour with police, citizens and his colleagues in chase. Several cars suffered damages due to Mane’s antics.
Additional sessions Judge V.K. Shewale held Mane guilty of murder, attempt to murder, theft, property damage, rash and negligent driving under the IPC and several sections of the Motor Vehicles Act. Justice Shewale demolished the defence lawyer’s contention that the accused was psychologically disturbed. “He hit only people and cars, but no buildings and other structures were damaged. This shows he was not mentally disturbed. He also told the police officers, who entered the vehicle not to meddle in his affairs,” said Justice Shewale.
The court also rapped Dr Dilip Burte, the Solapur-based psychiatrist who was treating Mane, for “misleading the court” and “falsification of evidence.” “Dr Burte did not provide any documentary evidence of having treated Mane for mania and administering him with electro-convulsive therapy (ECT). The claim of him suffering from mania was made as an afterthought,” observed justice Shewale.
Advocate Dhananjay Mane, representing Mane said he would now argue for leniency on the grounds that he is the only earning member of his family and said he would appeal in the high court.
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