Thiruvananthapuram: A hit-and-run case involving actor Maniyanpilla Raju has triggered controversy amid allegations of lapses by police in tracing the vehicle and taking the actor into custody soon after the accident.The incident occurred around 10pm on Thursday near the Trivandrum Club as the actor was exiting the premises. CCTV visuals show a speeding two-wheeler hitting the front bumper of the car driven by Raju, throwing the two riders onto the road and causing serious injuries. The car did not stop at the scene and left immediately after the collision.
The injured have been identified as Sooraj, 20, and Nivedith Krishna, 20, both residents of Thiruvananthapuram. Sooraj sustained fractures to his left leg and shoulder, while Nivedith suffered injuries to his spine and legs. Both are undergoing treatment at private hospitals in the city.According to initial police reports, Raju switched off his mobile phone soon after the accident and did not return home that night. While police tracked the ownership of the vehicle the same night, it is alleged that they did not make sufficient efforts to locate the actor or the car immediately, leading to accusations that the police attempted to shield him. City police commissioner K Karthik has ordered a probe to ascertain whether there were any lapses in the investigation. He said police had visited Raju’s residence on Thursday night but found the house locked and the car missing.Raju appeared before the police on Friday morning around 9.30am and was taken to the general hospital for a medical examination. Allegations are that the alcohol test was conducted nearly 12 hours after the accident. While Raju claimed he returned home soon after the incident, police maintained that his house was locked when they checked at night.The vehicle involved in the accident was recovered on Friday morning from a road behind the Tennis Club, near the residence of the actor’s son.Raju said he did not stop as he got scared. “Soon after the bike hit the bumper of my car, I realised that the people who were travelling on the bike had fell on the road. I got frightened and hence I immediately called my friends who were present at the club and asked them to help the bikers. I was having fever and my wife was alone at home. So, I left the spot immediately. I had called up the Museum police station and informed about the accident. I told them that I will come to the station this morning and will report,” Raju said.Raju has been booked under Sections 281 (rash or negligent driving endangering human life) and 125(a) (acts endangering the life or personal safety of others) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and Sections 134(A) (failure to provide medical assistance to accident victims) and 134(B) (failure to report an accident to police) of the Motor Vehicles Act. He was later released on station bail after the medical examination.
