Lorry driver involved in hit-and-run accident with minister Laxmi Hebbalkar’s car arrested

BELAGAVI: Three months after Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar’s official car was involved in a hit-and-run accident, the Kittur police have a lorry driver, Madhukar Somavamshi, from Maharashtra. He was later released on station bail.

Police Superintendent Bheemashankar Guled said that 69 lorries from different states were checked of which paint samples were taken from 10 and sent for forensic tests. Paint samples were also taken from the minister’s official vehicle.

Based on the forensic findings, Madhukar was arrested. “Madhukar admitted to the accident during questioning and the police have seized the truck (MH 12 TV 9740) which he was driving on that day. A case of hit-and-run has been registered against him and we will file a chargesheet soon”, the SP said.

Meanwhile, two murder accused attempted suicide when the police went to arrest them, the SP said. While one of them died, the other was rescued. The two were wanted in the murder of a mother-son duo of Chandravva Icheri (62) and Vitthal Icheri (42) over a property dispute in Nandagaon village.

While Suresh hanged himself to death, Srishail was rescued by the police.

The case was being investigated by the Aigali police. The main accused Suresh Savadatti committed suicide by hanging from a tree on the outskirts of Shegunasi village in Athani taluk. When the police had gone to arrest the second accused Srishail Horatti, he ran and tried to end his life, but was rescued by the police and shifted to a hospital, the SP said.