The Ba Magistrate’s Court has found Praveen Dutt not guilty of dangerous driving that led to the tragic death of an elderly man, Tulsi Narayan, in Vatulaulau in 2017. The court listened to testimonies, including that of witness Solomoni Vakatale, who recounted seeing a man crossing the road while he was driving down a slope near the Vatulaulau Sanatan School. Vakatale recounted that he slowed down and used his hazard lights, but Dutt’s taxi continued at a constant speed and collided with Narayan, throwing him onto the taxi’s bonnet and subsequently onto the road.
While Dutt admitted to driving the taxi involved in the accident, he argued that the incident was not due to dangerous driving but rather an attempt to evade an oncoming vehicle’s headlights that blinded him. After reviewing the evidence, Magistrate Namrata Mishra stated that the court could not conclude whether Dutt’s driving fell below the standards expected of a competent driver or contributed to creating a dangerous situation.
Mishra highlighted that the prosecution had not successfully discredited Dutt’s testimony or that of his wife, indicating that they failed to prove that his driving was irresponsible and played a direct role in Narayan’s death. The ruling, delivered on January 29, means that the prosecution has 28 days to appeal the verdict in the High Court.
This case serves as a reminder of the complexities of road safety and the importance of thorough investigations in determining liability in traffic incidents. As the legal process continues, there remains a focus on ensuring that justice is served while highlighting the complexities involved in such tragic events.
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