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In the case of a reckless driving incident that left a young footballer in a coma, the Ahmedabad Rural Court has directed the investigating officer to strictly follow the provisions of the new Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and use modern forensic methods for collecting evidence.
The accused, Vijay Vaghjibhai Rabari, son of a police officer, was arrested eight days after the incident and has since been granted conditional bail.
Court cites new BNSS rules mandating modern investigation methods
In his order, Additional Judicial Magistrate DM Bavishi of Ahmedabad Rural Court noted that the complaint was filed after the BNSS came into effect, and that the law explicitly empowers investigators to use modern methods for investigation.
- Drug detection using hair samples (within 90 days of the incident)
- Mobile location tracking
- Retrieval of CCTV footage
- Modern vehicle speed analysis
The court said these measures are essential to ensure a thorough and timely investigation, particularly in serious cases involving public safety.
Despite CCTV coverage and serious injuries, the police took eight days to arrest the accused and failed to test him promptly for intoxication, raising questions about procedural delays and investigative gaps.
According to the FIR filed at the SG Highway Traffic Police Station, 22-year-old footballer Jay Kanani and his friend Andre Rahul Bhatia were riding an Activa scooter when they were struck by a black Mercedes.
The car allegedly sped off without stopping. Both were injured. Andre, who suffered severe head trauma, remains in a coma at Apollo Hospital.
Following the incident, Kanani approached the court, alleging that the police had not acted swiftly or properly.
He argued that if the accused had been arrested within 24 hours, it would have been possible to test him for drug or alcohol use through blood or urine samples. Even now, he pointed out, forensic hair analysis could still be used to establish drug use within the 90-day window allowed under the BNSS.
The complainant also sought court-monitored investigation, citing the delayed arrest despite the presence of surveillance cameras along SG Highway.
The court’s directive is likely to increase public pressure on the police to modernise investigative practices, especially in cases where evidence may degrade with time.