In a dramatic turn of events, a fatal hit-and-run case that remained unsolved for three years was cracked by the Mumbai Police within days of sharp criticism from the Bombay High Court, prompting judges to question if their order was “judicial magic.”
The case involves the death of 29-year-old Aman Jha, who was killed in a road accident in Malad on August 17, 2022. For years, police had claimed they were unable to trace the truck driver responsible. However, following a court hearing on August 5 where judges noted the investigation appeared to be an “eyewash,” the police swiftly located the accused and filed a chargesheet on August 21.
“What you could not do in three years, you did in three days?” a High Court bench of Justices Ravindra V. Ghuge and Gautam A. Ankhad asked the police. “Is it the Mumbai police or judicial magic? Because we passed an order, you began working in electric speed?”
The breakthrough came after investigators re-examined CCTV footage, which revealed the truck belonged to a logistics company and was marked with the letter ‘A’. This led them to a company in Vapi, Gujarat. Using e-challan records, police identified the truck’s owner, who then led them to the driver. The driver reportedly confessed he had not informed his employer about the accident for fear of losing his job.
The court’s intervention followed a 2024 petition by the victim’s mother, Babita Jha, who was following her son on another scooter when the accident occurred. Her counsel, Advocate Bharat Bhatia, accused the police of gross negligence, arguing that the delay and investigative gaps could weaken the case against the accused. He pointed out that police had initially claimed no CCTV footage was available and that the victim’s scooter, a key piece of evidence, was missing.
While the court observed that the new investigation “seems convincing,” it has reserved its decision on whether to order a departmental inquiry against the officers initially involved in the probe. The judges have directed that the trial be expedited and advised the victim’s family that they can now approach the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) for compensation.
