Court grants bail to driver of bus in Bhandup accident case

The Bombay High Court has granted bail to Santosh Sawant, driver of a bus of BEST, in the Bhandup station accident case in which four persons died and 12 persons suffered injuries.

The court said the defence argument had substance at the stage of bail: Sawant may not have received training that BEST requires to operate a bus that runs on electricity. Justice Shyam Chandak made the observation while granting bail.

The court took note of a letter that a depot manager of BEST sent to the police on January 7. The letter stated that the undertaking did not have a certificate that confirmed whether Sawant had received training to drive a bus that runs on electricity. The name of Sawant was not on the list of drivers who had training. BEST assigned Sawant to operate a bus on Route 606 from December 1, 2025, even though the name of Sawant was not on the list.

The prosecution alleged that Sawant drove the bus at speed and without care when the bus went out of control near Bhandup railway station (West). The bus hit pedestrians who stood near a bus stop.

Devendra Patil, lawyer for Sawant, argued that BEST assigned Sawant to drive a bus that runs on electricity although Sawant had not undergone training. The defence submitted that refusal of the assignment could have led to action under discipline rules and to loss of job. It was brought to the notice of the court that there was no evidence that Sawant drove the bus at speed on purpose or that Sawant was under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The court considered that Sawant had worked with BEST since 2011 and had no record of an accident. The court also noted that the trial may not conclude soon and that the case lists 56 witnesses.

Sawant had approached the High Court after the Sessions Court rejected the bail plea of Sawant. Sawant has been in jail for 11 months since the arrest of Sawant. The court accepted the argument of Sawant and granted bail to him.