The Nagpur Sessions Court has scheduled April 16 to hear the anticipatory bail plea of Ritika Maloo, who allegedly drove the Mercedes involved in a fatal accident on February 25, claiming the lives of Mohd Hussain Mustafa and Mohd Ateef on Ram Jhula. Meanwhile, the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) rejected the police’s request to re-arrest Ritika, citing no crucial evidence to seize from her. However, police are determined to obtain her custody for further questioning and plan to file a revision petition against the JMFC’s decision.
Ritika and her companion, Madhuri Sarda, were returning from a party at CP Club when the accident occurred. Police obtained CCTV footage and a liquor bill from the club as evidence. Seeking non-bailable charges of culpable homicide, police aim to nullify Ritika’s previous bail, granted under bailable terms.
The collision resulted in the deaths of Hussain Mustafa and Ateef. Police are contesting Ritika’s anticipatory bail plea, stressing the need for her custodial interrogation. Initially charged under bailable provisions, Ritika’s charges were upgraded to non-bailable, sparking controversy over their application. Critics argue that invoking the non-bailable Section 304 IPC from the outset could have prevented Ritika’s swift bail. The situation prompts scrutiny of the case’s handling, particularly regarding Ritika’s co-passenger’s involvement. The development underscores the legal complexities and public scrutiny surrounding the tragic incident.