Panaji: A North Goa court acquitted Mohammad Riyaz Shaikh of causing death by negligence in an alleged case of rash riding in 2018 that claimed the life of a senior citizen.Shaikh was allegedly found riding a scooter without a valid insurance, and was carrying excess pillion riders. His vehicle hit 62-year-old Krishna Jagannath Polji when the senior citizen was walking from Pernem towards Parsem.Polji was declared dead at the Pernem community health centre, and Shaikh’s pillion riders suffered injuries. Shaikh allegedly fled the spot without rendering medical assistance, and without informing the police.The court observed that the investigating officer (IO) did not examine the three sole eyewitnesses. The IO stated that he was unable to secure their presence as their whereabouts were not known and that there was no other eyewitness to the accident.Although the prosecution was able to prove that an accident occurred at the place on Aug 6, 2018, at 8pm, involving a scooter in which pedestrian Polji died, it failed to prove that the accident occurred due to rash and negligent riding by Shaikh.“…I am of the opinion that the prosecution failed to prove that the accused rode his vehicle in such a way that it showed disregard for life and safety of others,” the court observed.
