Thane’s Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) has ordered a compensation of ₹27 lakh to six victims of a 2019 road accident on the Bengaluru-Pune Highway, including the car driver’s wife and two children. The order, passed on September 4 by tribunal member R.V. Mohite, decided five claim petitions arising from the incident — two related to deaths and three concerning injuries.
On June 8, 2019, the victims were travelling in a car driven by Jahindra Shivppa Kumbhar when he allegedly lost control of the vehicle near Karad village. The car struck a divider before crashing into a roadside tree, resulting in serious injuries to all occupants. They were later admitted to the ICU for treatment.
The petitions were filed by relatives of the driver, including his wife and two children, who sustained injuries. Compensation was also sought for the deaths of two other family members. The car driver did not appear before the tribunal, leading to an ex-parte decision against him.
The insurance company contested the claims, arguing that the case fell under the “hit and run” category and that policy conditions were breached. However, the tribunal dismissed these objections, observing that no evidence had been produced to substantiate the allegations.
Citing the FIR, the MACT held that the accident occurred due to excessive speed, with the driver unable to control the vehicle. It also noted that immediate police reporting could not be expected under the circumstances, given the severity of the injuries.
The tribunal awarded the following amounts:
- ₹4,34,645 to Jahindra’s wife.
- ₹4,79,910 and ₹4,69,233 to his two sons for their injuries.
- ₹8,25,172 to a man for his wife’s death.
- ₹4,99,726 to two individuals for the death of their grandmother.
The MACT directed that the compensation be paid jointly and severally by the driver and the insurance company, along with 9% annual interest from the date of filing of the petitions.
