The Sessions Court has denied bail to Sanjay More, a 54-year-old BEST bus driver, in connection with last month’s accident that claimed seven lives, stating that he was driving in a rash and negligent manner.

The court found it difficult to believe the incident was caused by any fault in the vehicle.

Additional Sessions Judge V M Pathade rejected More's bail application on January 10, as per the detailed order made available on Tuesday. The court dismissed More’s argument that the accident occurred due to technical or mechanical issues with the bus. 

The judge observed that More’s claims of poor maintenance, brake failure, or other mechanical defects lacked prima facie evidence. Furthermore, a report issued by the Regional Transport Office (RTO) suggested there were no mechanical faults in the vehicle, the court noted.

"In this view of the matter, it is hard to believe that there was any mechanical/technical fault or brake failure in the bus that resulted in the very unfortunate mishap," the court said.

More endangered the lives of not just passengers in the bus but also those who were on the crowded road, the court observed.

"It is prima facie seen that the applicant accused was driving the bus in a very rash and negligent manner irrespective of the fact that the road was being used by several others and there were several passengers in the bus too," the order said.

"Considering the gravity and seriousness of the crime and the punishment provided for the offences under which the accused is booked, I do not find it a fit case to enlarge the accused on bail," the judge said.

Case Brief
On December 9, an electric bus operated by the civic-run Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking rammed into pedestrians and vehicles on a congested road near Kurla railway station. The tragic accident claimed seven lives and injured over 40 others. 

The driver, Sanjay More, was arrested the same night and booked under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Motor Vehicles Act. While seeking bail, More argued that he was a professional driver and attributed the accident to a sudden and unforeseen mechanical or technical fault in the bus.

However, the prosecution countered his claim by presenting a report from the Regional Transport Office (RTO), which stated unequivocally that there was no mechanical fault in the vehicle. The sessions court, in its order rejecting More's bail plea on January 10, observed that he drove in a rash and negligent manner, endangering the lives of passengers and pedestrians alike.