Mercedes driver of Ballari car crash held in Bengaluru

BENGALURU: Nearly a week after the accident involving a Mercedes car on National Highway 50 near Hospet in Ballari, a police team, which arrived in Bengaluru to investigate the case, arrested the driver on Saturday on charges of rash and negligent driving.
Rahul, 29, was picked up from a private hospital in Banashankari where he was undergoing treatment. But they could not take him to Ballari since he is undergoing treatment and also has got bail."We are still waiting for the doctor's permission to take Rahul for spot confirmation and other formalities,'' police sources said.
A police team landed in Bengaluru on Friday to question all those present in the car at the time of the accident, sources said. Rahul was arrested after seeking his explanation.
According to the FIR filed by Ballari police, Rahul lost control of the maroon Mercedes car and rammed into a roadside tea shop on February 10, mowing down a 19-year-old daily wage worker who was sipping tea. Later, Sachin, an occupant of the car, succumbed to injuries.
Injured entered hospital through rear gate
Soon after the accident, Rahul and three others were taken in an open SUV to a private hospital in Hospet where doctors refused to treat them since it was an accident case. This has been captured by CCTV cameras of the hospital, footage of which has been widely being shared on social media.
The footage showed they tried to enter the hospital from the rear gate to avoid public glare. But hospital head Dr Perumal said they couldn't treat them since it was an accident case and suggested they go to the nearby government hospital.
It was widely believed that Sharath, son of revenue minister R Ashoka, was with the youngsters when the accident took place near Madanayakanahalli but the CCTV footage from the hospital did not provide any evidence. The police are investigating. Ashoka has denied his son was involved though he's been evasive about the details, insisting that investigation will reveal the truth
'Not on leave'
Meanwhile, Ballari superintendent of police CK Baba clarified he was not asked to go on leave for three days as reported in these columns on Friday and police had not interfered in the post-mortem.