Mumbai: Sports team manager booked for death of 13-year-old player in road accident

In a first of a kind case, a team manager of a Kho Kho team was today booked in connection with the death of one of its player in road accident.

Team manager Sumit Chavan, has been booked in connection with death of an aspiring player identified as Kartik Hardas (13). Kartik, a who was a resident of Ahmednagar in Maharashtra, died in a road accident on January 31 last year.

In January 2016, Mayor of Thane had organised an arts and sports meet. Kartik along with his team manager Sumit and 11 players were in the city participate in the event.

THE ACCIDENT

Kartik and his team manager were given accommodation in one of the buildings on the Ghodbunder Road. On the night of the accident, Kartik had told his manager that he wanted to go out. 

A police officer, investigating the case, said that most kids were coming to the city for the first time. He said that they wanted to visit the malls.

After visiting the mall, the while crossing a road, Kartik and other teammates climbed on the divider. Moments later, Kartik got down and was immediately run over by a car. He was rushed to the nearest hospital immediately however, he succumbed to his injuries.

Soon after the accident, the team withdrew from the competition. Thane Mayor condoled the death and announced a compensation of Rs one lakh to Kartik's family.

Since there were no CCTV cameras installed in the vicinity of the accident, the details of the car that mowed Kartik has not been retrieved.

Following the accident, the Thane Police registered an FIR against unidentified persons and have been on the lookout for the accused ever since.

FAMILY'S ALLEGATION

After the accident, Kartik's father Babasaheb accused the team manager of murdering his son. Babasaheb came up with several theories to support his claims that Sumit was behind the murder.

He asked why a bus that was arranged for the kids not used for transport. Babasaheb told the police that Sumit should have ensured the team's safe transport. He asked why Sumit did not ensure that the children crossed the road on the Zebra crossing.

Police said that Kartik's father wrote 21 complaint letters. A complaint was filed after the Thane Police consulted a team of lawyers almost after two years of the incident.

Incidentally, the police had initially filed a case under Section 304 A (causing death by negligence) of the Indian Penal Code against the unidentified driver.

In the case where team manager Sumit is booked the police have registered a case under Section 336 (act endangering human life) and Section 75 of Juvenile Justice act of 2015 which means punishment for cruelty to child.