BMW Case: Sanjeev Nanda held guilty

The Delhi Court on Tuesday held Sanjeev Nanda, grandson of former Naval Chief S M Nanda, guilty in the nine-year-old BMW hit-and-run case. The sentence is likely to be announced tomorrow.

Nanda has been convicted under Section 304 (2) culpable homicide not amounting to murder of the IPC which can land him for a maximum prison of ten years, while the second accused Manik Kapoor has been acquitted.

The court also convicted three others: Rajeev Gupta and his two domestic helps Shyam Singh and Bhola Nath for destruction of evidences.

The nine-year-old BMW hit-and-run case has been in the headlines for a long putting the entire judicial system on the bar in delivering justice.

Nanda, 30, was found guilty of mowing down six persons, including three policemen when his car ran over seven people killing six on January 10, 1999 in the Lodhi Colony in South Delhi.

The three men present in the car during the accident are: Sidharth Gupta, son of a businessman Rajeev Gupta to whose house the BMW was brought after the accident where they tried to erase the blood stains in an attempt to destroy evidence; Sanjeev Nanda,, the alleged driver and Manik Kapoor, who had managed to prove that he was not in the driving seat.

Culpable Homicide Section 304 (2)

Anybody held guilty under culpable homicide not amounting to murder shall be punished with imprisonment for life or imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine, if the act by which the death is caused is done with the intention of causing death, or of causing such bodily injury as is likely to cause death.

Or, with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, or with fine, or with both, if the act is done with the knowledge that it is likely to cause death, but without any intention to cause death, or to cause such bodily injury as is likely to cause death.

Para I: Punishment-Imprisonment for life or imprisonment for 10 years and fine-Cognizable –Non-bailable-Triable by Court of Session- Non- compoundable

Para II: The maximum punishment is 10 years, or fine, or both -Cognizable –Non-bailable