Nagpur: The father of the minor boy, who was behind the wheel in the car crash at Kalamna that killed two of his friends on Aug 12, was arrested on Friday. Earlier, additional Sessions Judge AA Joglekar on Wednesday rejected the anticipatory bail application of the boy’s parents.The court observed that the applicants were well aware that their minor son was using the four-wheeler, thereby endangering public life, and suppressed an earlier similar matter in which Motor Vehicles Act provisions were invoked.Kalamna police had registered a case against the father for allowing the minor to drive the family car. Though the mother was not named an accused, she too sought anticipatory bail.The fatal accident occurred between 5 am and 5.30 am on Aug 12. The 17-year-old boy, described in court papers as a juvenile in conflict with law, was driving his father’s car in which two other minor boys were also seated. They were heading to celebrate a friend’s birthday. The birthday boy was running late, so the three took a short joyride.CCTV footage seized by police under senior inspector Praveen Kale shows rash driving at the time of the crash. The car lost control near Bharatwada Y-Point on the Pawangaon-Bharatwada road and rammed into a stationary truck. Bhaumik Larokar (16) and Sagar Melwani (17) died on the spot. The minor driver suffered serious injuries and remains under treatment.The judge recorded that the parents were also alleged to have tried to influence witnesses at the hospital. “Investigation is at a nascent stage and two minor boys have lost their lives. Granting such relief would naturally derail the momentum of investigation,” the order said. The court held that custodial interrogation was necessary and rejected the plea.Sources said last year Kalamna police had filed a case against the minor’s mother after a moped registered in her name met with an accident. Her son was riding pillion while his friend was driving the moped. Police said the same friend died in the car crash on Aug 12.The interveners, represented by advocates Sameer Sonwane, Amit Thakur and Aquid Mirza, pointed out that the mother had an earlier offence which the court should consider.
