Bus Mishap: Forensic Report Says Biker Siva Sankar Was Drunk
CTV footage shows Siva Sankar and Yerriswamy buying liquor at a nearby shop on Thursday night; forensic tests on Siva Sankar’s viscera found traces of alcohol Pillion rider Yerriswamy, in police custody, files statement at Ulindakonda police station, explaining how the mishap occurred
Kurnool: In a major twist to the Vemuri Kaveri bus mishap case, police have revised their FIR after forensic test results confirmed the bike-riders’ role in the Chinna Tekuru road accident in Kurnool.
Based on new evidence, police said that biker B. Siva Sankar was under the influence of alcohol when the crash occurred. The Regional Forensic Science Laboratory (RFSL), Mangalagiri, detected traces of alcohol in Siva Sankar’s viscera samples, Kurnool SP Vikrant Patil said.
Officials from RFSL, Mangalagiri, clarified that only traces of alcohol were detected. They explained that the viscera samples tested positive for alcohol, which indicates consumption prior to death. “The percentage shown in viscera tests may differ from that in a live body, as the composition changes after death. The testing machine detected only traces,” the officials said.
Ulindakonda sub-inspector Dhanunjaya said, “Investigations revealed that an intoxicated Siva Sankar, who was riding a motorcycle along with his friend Yerriswamy, lost control and hit the divider on the national highway. The ill-fated bus then ran over the bike and caught fire. CCTV footage from a petrol bunk near Chinna Tekuru showed the bikers’ abnormal behaviour.”
“Additional CCTV footage from Renuka Yellamma Wines at Pedda Tekuru showed that the two, while riding the bike, purchased liquor twice on Thursday night — at 7 p.m. and 8.25 p.m., just hours before the mishap,” he added. “We are yet to interrogate the hotel staff.”
“Initially, we relied on Yerriswamy’s statement that they were sober, but the forensic report proved otherwise,” the police said.
Pillion rider Yerriswamy, currently in police custody, filed his statement at the Ulindakonda police station. Based on this, police registered a case crime 183/2025 under Sections 281 (rash driving), 125(A) (negligent behaviour), and 106(1) (causing death by a rash or negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Yerriswamy, in his statement, said the accident occurred due to Siva Sankar’s reckless driving under the influence of alcohol. “When the bike hit the divider, both of us fell down. Siva Sankar died on the spot. I tried to move his body aside, but another vehicle hit our bike, pushing it onto the middle of the road. Later, the Vemuri Kaveri Travels bus ran over the bike, leading to the fire and the major accident,” he said.
Ulindakonda sub-inspector Dhanunjaya said Yerriswamy’s statement helped the police establish the circumstances of the accident and Siva Sankar’s condition at the time of the crash.
