Audi crash: businessman’s son arrested

The car was tearing away at 150 kmph when it hit the autorickshaw, say the police

Bangalore: The city police on Monday said that they had arrested the son of a businessman and film producer on the charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder after he allegedly rammed a brand new Audi into an autorickshaw on M.G. Road here in the early hours of Sunday, killing a passenger and injuring two others.

Rajesh L. Reddy (21), a Christ University graduate set to go to the U.K. for higher studies, is the son of Indiranagar resident Lokesh Reddy.

The police said that Rajesh and his three friends were on their way to the Empire Hotel in Shivajinagar around 2.30 a.m. to pack food for his mother Prema Reddy’s birthday party. The Audi Q7, registered in Ms. Reddy’s name, had been bought barely three days ago and had only a temporary registration number.

Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) M.A. Saleem said that CCTV footage showed the car tearing away at 150 kmph, which amounted to “rash and negligent driving”. “Moreover, the accused could have helped the victims to hospital but they fled the scene, which shows their irresponsibility,” he said.

The crash killed Deepak (26), while his cousin Karthik (25) and autorickshaw driver Yunus Ali (26) were grievously injured when the high-end car, coming from Trinity Junction on M.G. Road, crashed into the auto, which was turning right at Mayo Hall junction.

The impact of the crash was such that the occupants had to be pulled out with great effort from the mangled autorickshaw. The three-wheeler overturned, while the car spun and crashed into a metro rail column.

Deepak and Karthik, both pub employees, were returning home from work in the auto.

While the occupants of the Audi made themselves scarce abandoning their car, it was Syed Khaleel, driver of an autorickshaw passing by, who rushed the three to Bowring Hospital.

“We suspect that Rajesh could have had drinks and we are going to subject him to medical examination,” Ashok Nagar police said.

The police had to wait for the Regional Transport Office to open on Monday to track down the car owner.