A cocktail of alcohol and speed again claimed a life in the capital. In spite of Delhi police’s repeated warnings of penalty and jail for drunk driving, a Delhi University graduate rammed his Mercedes-Benz under the influence of alcohol and rammed it in an autorickshaw in the early hours of Sunday. The auto driver was rushed to the hospital but was declared brought dead.
The accused, identified as Harshneet Marwah, 24, a resident of Green Park Extension, was arrested. The incident was reported at around 2.30 am when Harshneet was returning home from a restaurant at Ambience Mall in Vasant Kunj with his two friends.
“Harshneet was speeding and driving recklessly when he hit the autorickshaw from behind on Nelson Mandela Marg. The impact of the collision was such that the autorickshaw turned a mangled wreck of metal,” deputy commissioner of police (south) Chhaya Sharma told reporters here.
The policemen posted at a picket just 100 metres from the spot witnessed the accident. “Our team found the autorickshaw driver bleeding profusely and immediately rushed him to AIIMS Trauma Centre. He was, however, declared brought dead,” DCP Sharma said.
The body of the autorickshaw driver, identified as, Lalit Kumar Ojha, 35, who lived in Paharganj, has been sent for post-mortem.
While the three men travelling in the Mercedes-Benz car, Harshneet and his friends, Damanjeet Singh, a resident of Satvadi, and Prayag Raj Prem, a resident of Greater Kailash II, escaped unhurt due to the car’s airbags. They were arrested from the spot.
On the inspection of the car, the police also found liquor bottles.
“A medical examination has confirmed that the trio was drunk, which also proves that Harshneet was driving under the influence of alcohol,” said a police official. A case has been registered against Harshneet at the Vasant Kunj North police station.