I-T officer’s female friend knocked down pregnant woman, held

The accused were identified as K Roobavathy of Old Kolathur and A Aravind of Pallavaram. Officials said Aravind worked as a driver for Income Tax officer Tamil Vanan and had come to the latter’s friend Roobavathy’s house to fetch lunch for him.

“Roobavathy accompanied Aravind to Tamil Vanan’s office and allegedly requested the driver to let her drive the car as she has been learning driving. Aravind could not say to no to her as she was confidante of the officer, and let her drive the car,” said an official.

But Roobavathy could not negotiate a left turn and lost control over the vehicle. It ran amok and knocked down Ghousarbi of Sevvapet, who was standing in front of a tea shop. Ghousarbi, who was four-month pregnant, died on the spot. The police said she had come to Villivakkam for medical checkup and was on her way to her sister’s house after meeting her husband Azaruddin, who works in a textile shop in the same locality.

Based on a complaint by Azaruddin, Tirumangalam traffic investigation police registered a case under Sections 279 (rash driving), 304 (culpable homicide) and 109 (abetment) IPC and seized the vehicle.

Roobavathy and Aravind fled the spot after the accident but were secured from their hideout and remanded in judicial custody.

The car that was hired by the Income Tax Department on contract basis will be produced before the court, said an official.