SUV with TRS MLA sticker kills infant at Jubilee hills; CCTV, finger prints helps cops trace accused

Hyderabad: A 24-hour manhunt launched in the case of infant's death due to an over-speeding SUV at Jubilee Hills, ended in the arrest of degree student Syed Afnan Ahmed. The 19-year-old accused is a student of Hyderabad School of Business-Banjara hills and was reportedly behind the wheels at the time of accident.

To recall, on March 17th a speeding SUV hit a group of street-vendors resulting in the death of a two-month-old infant at road number 45 of Jubilee hills of Hyderabad. Syed Afnan Ahmed was driving along with his two friends Rahil (TRS Bodhan MLA Shakil Aamir Mohammed's son) and Maaz.

It is pertinent to note that the Mahindra Thar car involved in the crash was bearing an assembly pass of TRS Bodhan MLA Shakil Aamir Mohammed. The MLA was not present at the time of the accident. However, he told the cops that he had given the sticker to his friend Mirza and the car registered on the name of a private company.

What happened on the night of 17th March

Balloon vendor Kajal Chouhan (20) who hails from Maharashtra came to Hyderabad in search of a livelihood. Along with other street-vendors, Kajal sold balloons, strawberries and other fruits on the footpath of Jubilee Hills.

On 17th March, Kajal along with her infant Ranaveer Chouhan, sister Sarika and sister-in-law Sushma Chouhan Bhosle, were sitting on the footpath. The trio were seated on the divider opposite to the Honda showroom when an over-speeding Mahindra Thar (TS 16 AP T/R 9589) heading from Durgam Cheruvu Cable bridge towards road No. 45, Jubilee Hills, hit them.

Following the crash, Kajol's son fell from her arms while she received injuries on her right hand and legs. Sushma chouhan who also received injuries and the rest were shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment. Meanwhile the infant-Ranaveer succumbed to injuries and was declared dead to the hospital.

Significantly, the driver of the car and his two friends fled the spot, as onlookers started to pour in. Jubilee Hills Police registered a case under section 304(A), 337 of Indian penal Code. The West zone police under the Hyderabad Commissionerate constituted (4) special Teams, and launched a man-hunt.

How did Jubilee Hills cops traced the accused

The cops verified the CCTV cameras from road no.45- Jubilee Hills to Cyber Towers- Hi-tech City. The surveillance cameras helped cops identify the driver who was behind the wheels at the time of the accident.

CCTV footage revealed that the accused along with 2 of his friends Rahil and Maaz, were over-speeding through road no.45, Jubilee Hills resulting in the crash. Speaking to NewsMeter, West Zone Deputy Commissioner of police, Joel Davis said, "Prime accused Syed Afnan Ahmed confessed of the crime and surrendered before the police on 19th March".

When asked how cops identified the accused when he fled the spot, the DCP explained, "The four special teams skimmed through the CCTV footage and identified Syed. His fingerprints were matched with that found on the driver's side door. In addition, two eye-witnesses helped in his identification. Minutes after the crash, the trio tried to pick up the women, however fled when the onlookers began attacking them. One of the three, escaped and hid himself in a juice shop and the later the three met at a friend's house. The other two against whom allegations were levelled, confessed the same".

When asked if the TRS MLA's son Rahil was also arrested, DCP said, "No, since Rahil has not committed the crime, no arrest has been made".