New Delhi:
An MBBS student, who allegedly drove a speeding car that ran over eight labourers killing four of them in a South Delhi locality, was arrested early on Tuesday morning from the airport in Delhi while trying to flee to Russia where he is studying. (
Read: Delhi: 8 hit by Honda City driver, alcohol in car)
Shahid Khan (24), hailing from Rajasthan's Alwar, was apprehended from IGI airport at around 2 am, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) H G S Dhaliwal said. "He had managed to board KC 908 Air Astana flight but was made to disembark from the plane," he said.
Khan is doing his MBBS final year in Kursk Medical University in Russia. He had come to India on June 24 on vacations and was supposed to go back in the first week of August.
"But due to the incident, he changed his plan and preponed his schedule," Dhaliwal said. Khan's father is a property dealer in Mewat.
Four labourers were killed and four others, including a woman, injured when the Honda City car driven allegedly by Khan ran over the labourers engaged in road repairing work near Safdurjung flyover early yesterday.
Khan along with his two friends Shahzad (18) and Alam Khan (23) was returning from a party at Alam's residence in Aula village in Mehrauli when the incident took place at around 2 AM, police had said.
Khan, who was allegedly under the influence of alcohol, fled from the spot soon after the incident leaving his friends and the vehicle behind.
"The car which met with accident belonged to Shahid's maternal uncle. He took it for a joy ride and to fetch food for them and for their uncle," Dhaliwal said. The trio had allegedly consumed 12 bottles of beer before the accident.
During investigations, Dhaliwal said, Shahzad and Alam were examined and the identity of the driver was ascertained. Police conducted raids in many places in Haryana and Rajasthan yesterday to apprehend Khan.
Investigators, meanwhile, got a tip off that Shahid was planning to leave for Russia to avoid arrest. A trap was laid in and around IGI Airport and details of the accused were provided to the FRRO which led to his arrest.
"After the accident, he escaped to Mewat in Haryana for the time being. Later, he came to know that some people have died and he may be arrested. He immediately purchased air tickets and planned to leave the country before police could know his exact antecedents and whereabouts," Dhaliwal said.
Investigators had even collected his profile and photograph and handed it over to FRRO.
"One police team remained outside the airport to track him down and another team coordinated with the FRRO. The close coordination resulted in specific identification and location of absconding person in the plane and he was finally made to disembark," Dhaliwal said.