HYDERABAD: Police investigating the fatal August 16 road accident in Madhapur, which claimed the life of a mall employee, have seized the Aston Martin involved in the crash and sent it for inspection by a motor vehicle inspector (MVI).
Defending their decision not to arrest the accused, police said further action would depend on the evidence emerging during the investigation.
The luxury car, valued at around Rs 6 crore, is registered in the name of Honer Prime Housing LLP. The MVI report is awaited and will form a key part of the investigation, Kukatpally DCP Ritiraj said in a clarification on Friday.
The case, registered as Crime No. 1238/2026 at Madhapur police station, has been booked under Section 106(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Driver tests negative for alcohol, drugs
Police said the accused, Lingamaneni Sanjush, son of Janasena Rajya Sabha MP Lingamaneni Ramesh, was apprehended immediately after the case was registered and underwent preliminary alcohol and drug tests.
Both tests returned negative. His blood samples were subsequently collected and sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory for detailed examination.
According to police, Section 106(1) of the BNS, which carries a maximum punishment of five years’ imprisonment, was invoked based on the facts and circumstances available at the time.
Police cite legal provisions for no arrest
Responding to criticism over the decision not to arrest Sanjush, police said the law requires an investigating officer to assess whether an arrest is necessary when an offence carries a punishment of less than seven years.
The decision was guided by Section 35 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and principles laid down by the Supreme Court in the Arnesh Kumar vs State of Bihar case, police said.
“On an objective assessment of the material then available, no circumstances warranting the arrest of the accused were found to exist,” DCP Ritiraj said.
Police subsequently issued a notice under Section 35 of the BNSS directing the accused to appear before investigators and cooperate with the probe.
Police also rejected allegations that the accused had been spared arrest because of external influence, saying the decision was based solely on the applicable legal framework and evidence available at that stage.
Further action to depend on evidence
The investigation remains underway, with police awaiting the MVI report, forensic findings and other relevant evidence before deciding on further action.
Police said appropriate action, including arrest if warranted by the evidence gathered during the investigation, would be taken in accordance with the law.
Ritiraj described allegations that police had deliberately avoided arresting the accused to favour him as “factually incorrect and legally unsustainable”.
