Richi Kaypee's death: Accused moves court for pre-arrest bail

Absconding for four days since the death of ex-Jalandhar MP Mohinder Singh Kaypee's son Richie Kaypee, accused Gursharan Singh Prince has moved an anticipatory bail petition in the local court.

His petition was heard in the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Dr Deepti Gupta and the matter was put off for September 22. Prince, who resides at Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar, has been absconding since Saturday night when the accident took place. He was driving Creta at a high speed which had collided with Richie's Fortuner car, leading to his death. He had immediately left the spot but was identified from the number plate of the car and the CCTV trails that the police have been following.

Meanwhile, the police have intensified search of Prince and been putting pressure on his kin to urge him to surrender. His house is locked since the accident. Apprehensive that he could be in the national capital and could take a flight to escape from being arrested, the police have issued a Look-Out Circular against him.

The other accused Vishu Kapoor is still taking treatment at a private hospital. He was driving Grand Vitara that too had bumped into Richie's Fortuner on the fateful night. Once discharged, the police will arrest him too. Roopdeep Kaur, ACP, Model Town, said, "We are on our job. We shall share the details of the case as and when there is more development into it".

Being law graduates, Richie Kaypee and his father MS Kaypee have been members of the District Bar Association, Jalandhar. As Prince's family had approached a few lawyers, there had been a little reluctance from the lawyers initially in taking up the accused's case from the defence side. However, the family managed to rope in prominent lawyer Mandeep Sachdev. He said, "We presented the case in the court today, appealing that Prince was driving steadily when the accident took place and the sections imposed against him were too harsh. He had no intention to hurt anyone."

Vishu Kapoor and Prince have been booked under Section 281 (rash or negligent driving, 125 (a) (act endangering human life), 125 (b) (act endangering life/personal safety), 105 (causing death by rash or negligent act) and 324 (4) (mischief causing damage of Rs 20,000-Rs 1 lakh) of the BNS. Section 105 of the BNS is non-bailable offence.