Hyderabad: The party went on for three long hours, but had a tragic ending.
Four girls and two boys were among those who celebrated a pre-birthday bash at 'Up Up - The Roof Top Lounge Bar' at AS Rao Nagar. After partying with alcohol and food, the bill came close to Rs. 8,000, which one of the four girls paid.
The first indication that something had gone wrong was the sound of a loud crash. The car smashed into the wall and the cobbler's kiosk with a huge noise. Eyewitnesses who first saw the accident, say security guards on night duty at the nearby NFC gate first rushed to the spot and a few residents arrived later.
"During questioning, they confirmed that Ishanya was driving the car at the time of the accident. Though the youngsters did not do anything to help the victim, they did not attempt to flee from the scene. However, why she chose to apply brakes is not clear still," Kushaiguda Inspector, K Chandrashekar said.
Police said later that CCTV footage of the group entering the bar and leaving the bar are being analysed, along with footage of the party and the actual accident. Inquiries revealed that two more boys from Kushaiguda area who were classmates of the girls, had also joined them at the party.
One of the four girls, Harika Reddy, consumed alcohol, the other three, Srujana Kowta(19), Amrutha Bharathi (20), Ishanya Patireddy stuck to soft drinks and had dinner. Cops say that the boys may have also consumed alcohol at the party, but all that is not being probed, as they are in no way connected to the incident.
Case filed against Up Lounge bar
Kushaiguda Police booked cases against the bar that served alcohol to underage girls under various sections. Charges under sections 188 of IPC and 21/76 (running the business beyond the permissible timings) of the City Police Act and 36(1)(g) of the Excise Act (sells or gives any intoxicant to any person apparently under twenty one years of age) were charged against the owner of the bar. The excise department may likely shut down the bar. The excise wing claimed that though the owner had a valid license, it was not issued in the name of Up - The Roof Top Lounge bar.
