A Delhi court on Friday rejected the bail application of Gaganpreet Kaur, the woman accused of driving a BMW that fatally hit Finance Ministry official Navjot Singh last month. The court said the seriousness of the allegations, which include culpable homicide not amounting to murder, rash driving and endangering life, justified keeping the accused in judicial custody while the investigation continues.
Defence Points to Other Vehicles and Emergency Lapses
During the hearing, Kaur’s counsel argued that the case had been unfairly framed as a single-vehicle hit-and-run. According to the defence, a Delhi Transport Corporation bus and an ambulance at the scene also played a part — the bus allegedly collided with the victim’s two-wheeler after the BMW impact, and the ambulance reportedly delayed medical assistance. They told the court that thousands of accidents occur in Delhi every year, and sought equal scrutiny of all actors involved rather than targeting one driver.
Prosecution Highlights Gravity of Charges
Prosecutors countered that the circumstances were far from an ordinary accident. They pointed out that the accused did not immediately report the crash, took the victim to a hospital far from the accident site and allegedly gave conflicting statements to investigators. These factors, the prosecution argued, show an attempt to avoid responsibility, making bail inappropriate at this stage.
Court’s Observations
After hearing both sides, the magistrate noted that the “serious nature of the allegations, the ongoing probe and the potential influence on evidence” outweighed the plea for bail. The court extended Kaur’s judicial custody and directed police to file an updated status report on the role of the bus and ambulance in the incident.
Broader Implications
The high-profile case has drawn intense public attention because the victim was a senior government official and because it highlights larger issues about accountability in road accidents, emergency response lapses and alleged bias in police investigations. Legal experts say the trial could set precedents on how multiple vehicles and by-standers are examined in fatal crash probes.
