Malad Crash: Family of Woman Killed in Mumbai Accident Alleges ‘VIP Treatment’ for Accused in Police Custody

Mumbai: A tragic road accident in Malad West that claimed the life of a 33-year-old woman and left several people injured has now sparked another controversy, with the victim’s family alleging that the accused driver received preferential treatment while in police custody.

The family has claimed that the accused was allegedly allowed to use a mobile phone, given a chair inside the lock-up and later taken to an air-conditioned room at the police station. They have demanded a detailed and independent inquiry into the allegations.

The police’s official response to these claims is awaited.

The accident took place at around 8 pm on August 30 near the Mamalatdar Wadi Road signal on S V Road in Malad West. According to the complaint and information cited in the report, a car travelling from the direction of Malad Subway allegedly lost control and rammed into people on the road.

The crash left several people injured and resulted in the death of 33-year-old advocate Priyanka Mayank Satra, a Malad West resident.

Victim’s family raises questions over police treatment

The controversy over the alleged treatment of the accused began after members of the victim’s family reached the police station to register an FIR.

According to Pravin Chheda, a cousin of the deceased, the family and others who reached the police station at around 11:30 pm allegedly noticed that the accused was being treated differently from what they expected of a person in custody.

Chheda has alleged that the accused, identified as 71-year-old retired contractor Krishna Chamankar, was allowed to use a mobile phone while inside police custody. The family further claimed that he was provided with a chair inside the lock-up.

The allegations have prompted the family to question whether the accused received special treatment because of his background or connections.

However, these claims have not been independently established, and the police have yet to issue their detailed response to the allegations.

Family alleges accused was taken to an AC room

The victim’s family has made another serious allegation concerning the accused’s movement inside the police station.

According to Chheda’s complaint to Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti, a three-star female police officer from the Versova area allegedly arrived at the police station at around 1:20 am.

The family claims that the accused was subsequently taken out of the lock-up on the pretext of a medical examination and was allegedly seated in an air-conditioned room at the rear of the police station.

When family members reportedly asked about the accused’s whereabouts, they were allegedly informed that he had been taken for a medical examination.

The family has sought clarification on the circumstances surrounding the accused’s movement and has demanded that CCTV footage from the police station be preserved and examined.

Family demands independent investigation

Chheda has written to the Mumbai Police Commissioner seeking strict action against anyone found responsible for providing preferential treatment to the accused.

The family has demanded that the circumstances surrounding the alleged treatment be investigated separately from the road accident case.

Among the demands are an independent inquiry into the conduct of police officials, suspension and departmental action against any officers found responsible, and preservation of CCTV footage from the night of August 30-31.

The family has also asked authorities to preserve footage showing the movement of the accused from the accident location to the police station and his movements within the police premises.

According to the family, such evidence would help establish what happened after the accused was brought to the police station.

Family questions sections applied in the case

Apart from the allegations of preferential treatment, the victim’s relatives have also questioned the legal sections invoked against the accused.

Chheda has argued that stricter provisions should have been applied, alleging that the nature of the incident warranted stronger legal action.

The family has also expressed dissatisfaction with the accused being granted bail and said it would consider approaching the High Court.

However, questions surrounding the appropriate charges and bail will ultimately be determined through the legal process and based on the evidence collected by investigators.

What happened on August 30?

The accident occurred at around 8 pm near the Mamalatdar Wadi Road signal on S V Road in Malad West.

The vehicle allegedly came from the Malad Subway side at high speed before crashing into people on the road.

Priyanka Satra was travelling on a two-wheeler with her husband, Mayank, when the incident occurred. She died at the spot, according to the complaint cited in the report.

Her husband also suffered serious injuries.

The couple has two young children — an eight-year-old daughter and a four-year-old son — making the tragedy particularly devastating for the family.

Several other people were injured in the crash. One injured person reportedly suffered a head injury that required around 20 stitches.

Accused identified as 71-year-old retired contractor

The accused has been identified as Krishna Chamankar, a 71-year-old retired contractor.

His name has also previously appeared in connection with a high-profile legal case involving the alleged Maharashtra Sadan scam. Chamankar and his brother Prasanna Chamankar, associated with K S Chamankar Enterprises, were named in the case linked to former Maharashtra PWD minister and NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal.

However, the Bombay High Court later quashed the money-laundering case involving the Chamankar brothers and their firm.

The earlier case is separate from the Malad road accident, and allegations or proceedings in one matter should not be treated as proof of wrongdoing in another.

CCTV footage could become important

One of the key demands made by the victim’s family is the preservation of CCTV recordings from the police station.

The family believes the footage could help establish whether the accused was allowed to use a phone, whether he was provided a chair inside the lock-up and whether he was moved to another room during the night.

They have also sought preservation of CCTV footage covering the accused’s movement from the accident site to the police station.

Such recordings could potentially help investigators verify the competing claims and establish a clear timeline of events.

Police response awaited

The allegations made by the victim’s family are serious, but they remain allegations at this stage. There has been no detailed official response from the Mumbai Police regarding the claims of preferential treatment in the material provided.

An independent inquiry, if ordered, could determine whether any police personnel violated established procedures while handling the accused.

For the family of Priyanka Satra, however, the issue has become an important part of their demand for justice. They are seeking accountability not only in connection with the fatal crash but also for what they believe may have happened after the accused was taken into custody.

As the investigation continues, the evidence collected by police, including CCTV recordings, witness statements and other available material, is likely to play a crucial role in determining what happened on the night of the accident.

The family has made it clear that it wants the matter investigated thoroughly and transparently, while the police response and findings of any inquiry will be important in establishing whether the allegations of VIP treatment have any basis.

News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets