16 hours Ago
1 2 Pune: Wagholi police on Monday night arrested Anil Kate, owner of the dumper that killed three migrant workers and injured six others at Kesnand Phata earlier in the day, on the charge of being vicariously liable for driver Gajanan Totare's act as he knew the latter was alcoholic and still allowed him to drive the heavy vehicle. On Tuesday, police produced Kate before a magisterial court that ordered his remand in court custody. Kale was sent to Yerawada central prison.
Totare (26), arrested from the accident site early Monday morning on charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and drunk driving, is in police custody till Dec 27. Senior inspector (Wagholi police) Pandit Rejitwad said, "Kate, a resident of Dapodi, is vicariously responsible for the accident because though he was well aware of the fact that Totare is addicted to liquor, he still allowed him to drive the dumper for transporting a loadful of gravel from Kesnand to Avhalwadi." The accident occurred around 1am while Totare was returning to Kesnand from Avhalwadi and crashed his vehicle into a divider before running over a group of 22 migrant workers sleeping in an open area close to a pavement.
Rejitwad said, "Kate, being one of the co-owners of the dumper, should have prevented Totare from driving the vehicle. But he did not exercise his authority. Totare drank liquor in the dumper, drove the vehicle at high speed and met with an accident.
Kate runs a private firm and takes goods transport contracts. He appointed Totare as a driver one-and-a-half-years ago. Kate allowed Totare to park the dumper at a place outside the latter's residence in Kesnand.
" Among those killed in the accident were two toddlers aged one and two-years. The migrant workers had arrived in Pune from Amravati on Sunday afternoon as part of the annual Dec-to-June trip to undertake work at construction sites and casual tasks after the end of the soybean harvesting in their home district. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India .
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