Kanjhawala hit-&-run case: Tribunal awards Rs 36.69L relief to victim’s family

The Delhi Motor Accident Claims Tribunal awarded a compensation of over Rs 36 lakh to the family of 20-year-old Anjali Singh, who was killed in a hit-and-run incident in Kanjhawala here in January 2023.

In the wee hours of the New Years’ Day in 2023, Anjali was killed after she was hit by a speeding car and dragged for several kms from Sultanpuri to Kanjhawala, in Outer Delhi.

The tribunal, while deciding on a petition by the victim’s family, said according to the evidence put on record, “rashness and negligence on part of the driver of the offending vehicle was responsible not only for this accident, but also for everything that followed thereafter”.

In an order dated October 27, the tribunal noted that the driver, Amit Khanna, did not have a valid driving licence, and was under the influence of alcohol during the incident.

“Respondent 1 (Amit) was responsible for the death of the victim due to his neglect,” the tribunal held, saying that petitioners (Anjali’s family) were entitled to be compensated for the death.

The tribunal also stated that involvement of the owner of the offending vehicle, Lokesh Prasad Sharma, is not disputed.

It awarded around Rs 36.69 lakh as compensation to the family of the deceased under various heads. The tribunal also noted that the car was insured by Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Ltd and directed the insurer to deposit the amount within 30 days.

Anjali, who worked as an usher with an events company, was on her way home in a two-wheeler when her vehicle was hit allegedly by a grey car early on January 1 morning. The police said she fell, came under the car and got dragged for at least 14 km.

After driving the car for about two hours, the accused reached Kanjhawala crossing around 4 am. During this time, Anjali’s body fell from under the car, following which the accused fled the spot.

The police got a PCR call around 4:10 am about the body of woman lying on the roadside. Subsequently, they, along with a crime team, reached the spot and inspected the area. The cops scanned the CCTV footage in which the Baleno car could be seen.

They identified the registration number of the vehicle and reached at its owner’s place who said the car was being used by one of his relatives, Ashutosh. He told the police that Deepak Khanna and Amit Khanna had borrowed the car and had left the vehicle at his residence in an accidental condition around 5 am.

The police then arrested five persons - Deepak Khanna, Amit Khanna, Krishan, Mithun, and Manoj Mittal. Two more accused - Asutosh and Ankush - were arrested later on.

On January 13, as many as 11 cops were suspended for negligence in duty.

On April 1, 2023, the police filed an 800-page charge sheet against seven accused in the case.

As of today, six of them are out on bail, and the case is at trial.