Hyderabad: The colour of the shirt is what led the Manchal police to the culprit — Praveen Reddy — on Saturday. Praveen had encouraged his inebriated friend Nareddy Koteshwar Reddy to drive which led to the accident that killed five people on Monday.
According to S. Malla Reddy, ACP, Ibrahimpatnam, Praveen Kumar Reddy, 30, who had BAC (Blood Alcohol Count) of 274 at the time of accident, instigated Koteshwar to drive the car, even though another friend Sai was sober.
“Sai, Praveen, Koteshwar and Raghvendra had attended a function on Sunday night. Everyone except consumed alcohol. On the morning of accident, they left at about 5.20 am in Praveen’s brother-in-law, Chenna Reddy’s car and Praveen encouraged Koteshwar to drive,” the official said.
The officials identified the driver by the colour of the shirt by matching the clothes they wore at the party and at the time of the accident. “Koteshwar was wearing a blue shirt while Praveen wore a green shirt during the function on Sunday night. In the CCTV footage where their car is seen, a man wearing a green shirt is lying in the back, indicating that Praveen and Koteshwar were in the front as Sai and Raghvendra had told they were seated in the rear,” said the official.
A drunken drive test revealed that the alcohol level for Koteshwar and Raghavendra was 35 each, while Praveen's was 274 and Sai’s was nil. Police is waiting for Koteshwar to recover, post which he will be arrested by the Manchal police. “Koteshwar was gravely injured and has received fractures on his face and legs, while Sai continues to be critical with his grave head injuries,” the police said.
According to the cops, all six victims are out of danger. On Monday morning at Lingampally gate of Manchal mandal, Koteshwar who was driving the car in an inebriated state rammed it into an auto carrying 11 women. Four women and the auto driver died on the spot.
A case has been registered against Praveen and Koteshwar at the Manchal police station under Sections of IPC for injuring people due to their rash and negligent driving.
