Mumbai News: Malabar Hill Guard Booked For Illegal Parking Linked To Fatal Pedestrian Accident

Mumbai: The Malabar Hill Police have booked Bharat Ranbahadur Khadka (46), a security guard at Ashford Building and Car washer, in connection with the illegal parking that allegedly caused a fatal pedestrian accident on Ridge Road.

Khadka, originally from Kanchanpur, Nepal, resides at Sun Society Building, Ridge Road, Malabar Hill. Police said that on the morning of the incident, Khadka — who also works as a car washer — had moved a Skoda car away from the building wall to wash it and failed to place it back close to the wall. The vehicle remained jutting into the road in a no-parking zone near the building’s “IN” gate, forcing pedestrians to walk closer to the traffic lane.

According to the FIR, he has been booked under Sections 281 and 106(1) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 184 and 122 of the Motor Vehicles Act. He has also been served a notice under Section 35(3) BNSS.

The case stems from the August 10 accident in which Neeta Nitin Shah (75), a Ridge Road resident, was fatally hit by an electric BEST bus (MH 01 EM 1162) while on her morning walk after a yoga session. Shah was walking towards Teen Batti when she attempted to bypass the illegally parked car and was struck by the bus. The bus, operating on Route 105 under a wet lease agreement with BEST, was driven by Akshay Avinash Surve (46). He is also booked, Served a notice under section 35 of BNSS.

Police say Khadka’s negligent parking created a road hazard that contributed to the accident. The investigation is ongoing to determine the degree of responsibility between the bus driver and the guard.