Cyclist crushed to death under doc’s car

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, August 13

A 45-year-old man was crushed to death by a Honda City car being driven by a Command Hospital doctor near Bella Vista at Sectors 1/2/5/6 roundabout this morning. The victim, Ajay Gupta, was the son of the Director of Ashiana Public School, Sector 46, Chandigarh.

The police said Dr Sunil, who had bought the car a few days ago, pressed the accelerator in a hurry instead of brakes. He was not found at the spot after the incident, but was arrested later.

A case under Sections 279 (rash driving) and 304-A (causing death by negligence) of the IPC has been registered at the Sector 5 police station. “We have now arrested Dr Sunil of the Command Hospital and a case has been registered against him,” said SHO Lalit Kumar.

According to the police, the incident occurred at 7:45 am when the victim Ajay Gupta, who used to go cycling for several kilometers daily, was today heading towards Red Bishop hotel from near Sector 6 chowk, when Dr Sunil’s car hit him from the rear, dragging him for some distance before hitting a road berm. The car was coming from Sikhsa Sadan to the Bella Vista hotel chowk. Following this, passersby informed the police and he was shifted to the Civil Hospital in Sector 6, where he was declared brought dead.

His mother Lalita Prakash rushed to the hospital after hearing the news while his father Lalit Prakash Gupta, who had gone to Delhi at 10 this morning, returned at 4 pm to the city. The police, after conducting the post-mortem examination, handed over the body to the family of the victim.

A relative of Ajay said his family was about to hand over him the reins of the school. The victim runs an event management business in Delhi but his father wanted him to settle down in Chandigarh. His relatives said the victim was looking forward to his son’s birthday which falls on September 30, before the tragedy struck him.

Had come to meet family

Ajay’s mother Lalita Prakash is the director and founder of Ashiana Public School, Sector 46, Chandigarh. His parents reside in Sector 9, Chandigarh. His elder brother, Uday Gupta, lives in the US. Ajay was living with his wife and an 11-month-old son in Delhi. He had come to meet his family in Chandigarh a few days ago.