Bombay High Court Acquits Bus Driver After 27-Year Legal Battle Over Pedestrian Death

The Bombay High Court has acquitted BEST bus driver Shivaji Karne, 27 years after he was convicted for the death of a pedestrian. The court found no evidence of rash or negligent driving, noting that Karne had even helped rush the victim to the hospital. Previous court rulings were deemed overly emotional.

The Bombay High Court has overturned the conviction of a BEST bus driver after a legal ordeal spanning 27 years. In a ruling on Monday, the court acquitted Shivaji Karne, previously found guilty of causing a pedestrian's death by rash and negligent driving.

The court noted a lack of evidence to support claims of rash driving, highlighting that no witnesses alleged Karne was speeding or broke traffic laws. Furthermore, Justice Milind Jadhav acknowledged that Karne had assisted in taking the victim to the hospital.

This decision quashes prior judgments by both a magistrate's court and a sessions court from 2001 and 2002, respectively. The high court also emphasized that previous judgments appeared emotionally swayed by the pedestrian's death, and ordered reinstatement or benefits for Karne, noting his potential retirement status.

(With inputs from agencies.)