The district police are investigating a hit and run incident that occurred near Ambadgatti Cross on the Pune- Bengaluru National Highway in the early hours of Tuesday.
Karnataka Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar and her brother, Legislative Council member Channaraj Hattiholi, along with the driver and bodyguard, were injured in a car accident on Tuesday, January 14 morning near Ambadagatti village in Kittur Taluk, Belagavi district.
Superintendent of Police Dr. Bheemashankar Guled, in a press reported on Wednesday providing a detailed sequence of the incident.
Preliminary investigations indicates that the driver of a canter swerved suddenly to avoid a dog on the road. In an event to prevent a collision, the SUV driver moved left, resulting in the SUV brushing against the canter before skidding onto the service road and colliding with a tree. The canter driver filed the scene, prompting the police to register a hit and run case.
Dr. Guled confirmed that more than 40 vehicles crossed the Hirebadewadi toll plaza on the highway, and the efforts are currently underway to identify the specific car that is involved in the accident.
The police investigated the accident area and observed that the SUV had been towed to a showroom before the filing of the panchnama. Upon inspecting the vehicle properly, officers found marks consistent with contact from a canter.
Dr. Guled further stated that the decision to relocate the vehicle from the accident site will also be included in the part of the investigation.
Dr. Guled assured that all possible angles would be thoroughly investigated. Although the complaint did not mention any political motives. The investigation is ongoing as the police work to trace the canter and determine the complete circumstances surrounded by the incident.
Furthermore, Dr. Ravi stated while speaking to reporters, βThe minister is responding positively to treatment and currently resting due to a spinal cord injury. There is no cause for concern at this time.β