Inebriated driver crashes into Banjara Hills mosque, held in bid to shift blame on scapegoat

Hyderabad: A person was arrested for crashing a car while under the influence of alcohol. Additional charges were added as the accused tried to make someone take the fall for the accident.

Speaking about the case, Banjara Hills Inspector P Sateesh said that Illandu Srikanth from Banjara Hills, along with his friends, recently spent the night drinking at the Novotel Hotel in Hi-Tech.

Afterwards, an inebriated Srikanth, driving recklessly, collided with the wall of Green Mosque on Banjara Hills Road No 3.

The collision resulted in the collapse of the mosque’s wall, leading the mosque management to file a complaint with the police. During the investigation, an unexpected development occurred when Srikanth attempted to divert attention by presenting another person as the driver responsible for the accident.

The individual, who identified himself as Nagarjuna, voluntarily surrendered to the police, claiming culpability for the incident. However, suspicions arose when Srikanth, allegedly a friend of Nagarjuna, appeared at the police station immediately after Nagarjuna’s arrest.

Authorities noted disparities in Srikanth’s behaviour and observed wounds on his hands. Additionally, a recent incident involving a similar accident case at Praja Bhavan in Begumpet prompted Banjara Hills inspector Sateesh to intensify the inquiry.

The case was subsequently handed over to detective inspector Shaik Jakeer for a thorough investigation. After scrutinising CCTV footage from the accident site, it became evident that Nagarjuna, the self-proclaimed driver, was not present during the incident. Instead, it was established that Srikanth was behind the wheel.

This revelation exposed Srikanth’s attempt to mislead the police by falsely attributing the accident to someone else. Consequently, the police have filed charges against him under sections 308, 427, 279, 201, 203, 419 r/w 34 IPC, and arrested both.