No delayed response in hit-and-run case: Delhi Police

New Delhi: The Delhi Police on Friday denied any delayed response to the hit-and-run case in which goods auto-rickshaw driver Rajesh Kumar Gupta fatally hit 32-year-old Matbool in west Delhi`s Subhas Nagar.

"Police received a PCR call at 6.55 a.m. on Wednesday regarding a murder. The emergency response vehicle reached the spot at 7 a.m.," Joint Commissioner of Police (South Western Range) Dependra Pathak told reporters here.

He said Matbool had died by the time police reached the spot.

"When police reached there, they started investigation. But looking at the injury marks on the body, the officers came to know that it was not murder but an accident. And the CCTV footage obtained from the shop confirmed it," the officer said.

Pathak denied that a Police Control Room van passing by didn`t notice the body.

"The PCR van passed on the opposite side of the road and it might be that the police team didn`t notice the body lying there as vehicles were crossing from both the sides."

He said the PCR van that crossed the spot was going to attend another emergency call.

The officer said the accused, driver Rajesh Kumar Gupta, knew the victim will die from the impact of the accident and that it was inhuman of him not to have helped the victim.

"After his arrest, he tried to give lame excuses of feeling sleepy while driving," Pathak said.

Gupta, 25, a milk supplier, was arrested on Thursday evening from a house near his residence in west Delhi.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Police appealed to the people to help accident victims without fear of legal hassles.

"The police has issued a circular to all hospitals not to ask for the identity of persons who bring in accident victims for treatment."

"Those who help the victims are the first informants who can give important lead to police," Pathak added.

The police said it has made arrangements to send Matbool`s body to his native place in West Bengal.

The Delhi government on Thursday announced it will bring a scheme soon to reward and facilitate those who come forward and assist victims at such times.