Public prosecutor asks Cyberabad police to take action against drunk doctor

Hyderabad: The principal public prosecutor on Monday told the High Court that he would advise the Cyberabad police to book a case against an intoxicated doctor who hit a retired captain near Shamshabad airport with his vehicle, under Section 325 of IPC. The former Army officer was incapacitated.

Mr C. Pratap Reddy, the public prosecutor, made the submission before Justice M.S. Ramachandra Rao during the hearing of a petition filed by Dr T. Bhaskar of Hyderabad, whose father Captain T. Kameswara Rao, was badly injured in the accident that took place on July 16.

The petitioner alleged that the police booked Dr Sidhartha Darapuneni under minor sections, which led to his release through station bail. Ms S. Vani, counsel for the petitioner, urged the court to ensure that stringent punishment is awarded to the intoxicated drivers. She contended that the punishment should be harsher if the offender was a doctor who knew the consequences of drunk driving.

When the judge sought the assistance of the public prosecutor, he said that Section 325 dealt with those who voluntarily caused grievous injuries to others and carried a maximum punishment of seven years in jail.

Asking the police to file the counter affidavit, the judge wanted the authorities to take such issues seriously because not everyone can come to the High Court.