Mohammed Haris Nalapad was arrested after he appeared before the investigating officer on Wednesday over a serial accident involving a Bentley that he was allegedly driving three days ago.
The son of Congress legislator N A Haris was, however, immediately released on station bail. The hit-and-run sent shockwaves across the city as it came almost two years after Nalapad allegedly beat up a fellow diner at a UB City pub.
Police believe Nalapad crashed the Bentley into a motorbike, an auto-rickshaw and a car at the Mehkri Circle underpass in northern Bengaluru on February 9, seriously injuring the two-wheeler rider. Three other people, including a six-year-old, suffered minor injuries. Nalapad reportedly fled in an unregistered Lamborghini while his bodyguard, Balakrishna, surrendered himself to the police, claiming he was at the wheel.
B R Ravikanthe Gowda, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), said they had “strong” evidence that Nalapad was driving the high-end car.
“Soon after an FIR was registered in the case, evidence of Nalapad’s involvement was brought to my notice. The investigating officer summoned him for questioning the same day. But he appeared only today (Wednesday). He was questioned and arrested but since the offense is bailable, we released him on station bail,” Gowda explained.
The top officer exuded confidence that they had sufficient time to gather more evidence and charge Nalapad. “The Bentley has a defective number plate and its color was changed from red to black. All these things will be investigated,” he added.
Soon after he got bail, Nalapad sought to play the victim while talking to reporters. “I have been projected as a goonda. What have I done,” he said, reiterating that his bodyguard drove the car.
“Everyone knows that whenever I go somewhere, he drives my car. I plead with you (media) not to show me in a bad light as I have aged grandparents. Please leave me, I have not done anything. I have changed a lot after the previous incident (the pub brawl),” he said.
Nalapad claimed he traveled in a Lamborghini that moved ahead of the Bentley. “Soon after the accident, I lifted the auto-rickshaw and arranged for taking the victims to a hospital. I paid all their medical expenses and even gave them compensation. If the police have evidence, let them prove it. I am going to the court and will fight it out,” he said.
According to Nalapad, the accident was an attempt to cancel his bail and send him back to prison.
“I spent 116 days in prison. I am a changed man now. This car accident is not the first time in the world,” he said.
FIR against Nalapad's bodyguard
Sadashivanagar police have registered a suo motu FIR against Nalapad's bodyguard, Balakrishna, for coming to the police station and claiming that he was driving the Bentley. He has been booked under IPC sections 201 (causing the disappearance of evidence of an offence, or giving false information to screen the offender) and 419 (cheating by personation).
An officer said Balakrishna's conduct amounted to "misleading" the investigation and saving the culprit.