The Patiala House Court in Delhi has extended the judicial custody of Gaganpreet Kaur, the woman accused of driving the BMW that fatally hit 52-year-old finance ministry official Navjot Singh, until September 27. Kaur appeared in court after serving two days of judicial custody following her arrest on Monday afternoon. The court also postponed her bail application hearing until Saturday, as stated by advocate Atul Kumar, who represents the complainant’s family. Kumar informed media representatives that the case remains under investigation and is sub-judiced, rendering detailed comments inappropriate at this time. Additionally, the court has issued a notice for the preservation of CCTV footage from the crash site, in response to a request made by the accused.
This matter is set for a hearing on Thursday. The tragic incident occurred on Sunday when Navjot Singh, who was a deputy secretary at the Union finance ministry, and his wife Sandeep Kaur were riding their motorcycle through the Dhaula Kuan area in west Delhi. The BMW SUV, allegedly driven by Kaur, hit the central verge, overturned, and collided with the couple’s motorcycle. Following the accident, both were taken to a medical facility located approximately 19 kilometers away from the crash site. Unfortunately, Singh succumbed to his injuries shortly after reaching the hospital, while his wife survived.
In Kaur’s bail application, her legal counsel argued that she has fully cooperated with the investigation and has strong community ties, making her unlikely to flee or tamper with evidence. The defense highlighted that she is a mother of two minor daughters and has no prior criminal record. Kaur’s attorney has challenged the police’s request for remand, noting that there was a ten-hour delay in the FIR registration following the incident. The defense also pointed out that while the accident was tragic, similar incidents occur frequently across the country, with around 5,000 accidents reported nationwide each year.
Furthermore, the lawyer contended that other parties should be considered as involved in the case, including a DTC bus that allegedly collided with the motorcycle and an ambulance that reportedly passed by without offering help. The case has garnered significant attention due to the victim’s government position and the circumstances surrounding the event. The court’s decision to extend custody reflects the serious nature of the charges and the ongoing investigation into the fatal collision. Reports indicate that blood tests conducted on the accused returned negative results for alcohol consumption. However, the investigation continues to explore various aspects of the incident, including the sequence of events leading to the crash and the response from emergency services.
The legal proceedings bring to light broader issues related to road safety in Delhi and the accountability of drivers involved in fatal accidents, as well as questions regarding emergency response protocols and the treatment of accident victims in the capital city.