Bhandup BEST Bus accident: Driver drove rashly, police tells court

Mumbai Police while opposing the bail of the accused in the Bhandup BEST bus accident told the court that he was driving the vehicle rashly allegedly leading to a fatal accident last monthPolice told the Mumbai court that the driver was allegedly driving at a high speed despite knowing that the area near Bhandup station in eastern suburbs of the city was heavily crowdedThe submission was made on Wednesday while opposing the bail application of bus driver Santosh Sawant who was arrested by the police following the incidentIn its reply the police said granting bail to the accused could lead to a law and order situation given the sensitive nature of the case and public anger following the incident according to the PTINo mechanical fault foundThe police also informed the court that an inspection by the Regional Transport Office RTO found no mechanical defects in the electric bus involved in the crash ruling out technical failure as a cause as per the PTIVictims still undergoing treatmentAccording to the police six of the 12 people injured in the accident are still in a serious condition and are receiving treatment at different hospitals across the cityThe fatal accidentThe accident took place on December 29 2025 near the Bhandup West suburban railway station A ninemetrelong electric bus manufactured by Olectra Greentech and operated by the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport BEST undertaking crashed into pedestrians standing near a bus stopFour people were killed and 12 others were injured in the incidentBus driver was arrested after crashAt the time of the accident the bus was being driven by 52yearold Santosh Sawant He was later arrested by the Bhandup police and is currently in judicial custodyA case has been registered against him under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS and the Motor Vehicles Act for rash and negligent drivingDefence claims no criminal intentIn his bail plea Sawant claimed that he was innocent and had been falsely implicated He said the accident occurred when he tried to save a rickshaw and pedestrians who suddenly appeared in front of the bus causing him to lose control as per the PTIHe also stated that there was no criminal intent behind the incidentEyewitness account cited by copsRejecting the defence police told the court that the BEST bus was driven recklessly and at high speed crashing into passengers waiting at a bus stopAn eyewitness told investigators that the driver was aware of the heavy crowd near the bus stop close to the Bhandup police outpost but still drove at high speed while taking a turn behind the outpost the news agency reportedWitness safety a concernPolice further argued that the accused and key witnesses live in the same locality raising the possibility of witness intimidation if the driver is released on bailThey added that the investigation is still ongoing and more evidence is being collectedThe court is expected to deliver its order on Santosh Sawantrsquos bail plea on January 23with PTI inputs