Rajya Sabha MP’s Daughter Runs BMW Over Man Sleeping On Footpath; Free On Bail

New Delhi: In yet another case of hit-and-run, Madhuri, the daughter of Rajya Sabha MP Beeda Masthan Rao, ran over a man sleeping on a footpath in Chennai on Monday night. The victim died, while the woman received bail.

Madhuri, the daughter of YSR Congress Party Rajya Sabha MP Beeda Masthan Rao, was driving the BMW on Monday night. She was accompanied by a friend, another woman, according to a report by NDTV.

The MP’s daughter who was behind the wheel ran the car over a man sleeping on a pavement in an inebriated state. He has been identified as Surya, a 24-year-old painter. Madhuri reportedly fled from the accident spot immediately. Her friend, however, got out of the vehicle and was arguing with those rushed to the scene after the mishap, NDTV reported.

Surya was rushed to a hospital by passers-by but he succumbed to his injuries. The police checked the CCTV footage and found that the BMW belonged to the BMR (Beeda Masthan Rao) Group and was registered in Puducherry.

Madhuri was arrested but was granted bail soon after. The Adyar Traffic Investigation Wing police registered a case under section 304 A of the IPC (causing death by negligence), a bailable offence, and issued summons to the car owner, PTI reported.

“He [Surya] was sleeping on a pavement in Besant Nagar on Monday night, and a luxury car with a woman behind the wheel ran over him, killing him,” a senior police official was quoted as saying

Surya got married eight months ago and his relatives gathered at the police station demanding strict action.

Beeda Masthan Rao was elected as a Rajya Sabha MP in 2022. He served as an MLA before. Rao quit the Telugu Desam Party and joined the YSR Congress in December 2019. He is a backward-class leader belonging to the Yadava community, according to a report in The Week. The politician is also the chairman of the e chairman of the BMR Group, a shrimp farming and export firm, which has plants in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

What is the punishment for hit-and-run in India?

Accused in hit-and-run cases are tried under Section 304A of the Indian Penal Code and face penalties of up to two years in jail upon identification. However, the IPC will be replaced by Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), the new official criminal code which will come into effect from 1 July.

Under the BNS, there is a stricter punishment for it-and-run cases, with the accused facing imprisonment for up to 10 years with a fine.

The BNS has two distinct categories under the umbrella of “causing death by negligence”. The first category addresses causing death through any rash or negligent act that does not amount to culpable homicide. Offenders in this category may face imprisonment for up to five years and a fine, according to The Economic Times.

The second category deals with causing death through rash and negligent driving, not amounting to culpable homicide. If the individual flees without reporting the incident to a police officer or magistrate, they could face up to 10 years of imprisonment and a fine.