In Brief
The appellant, a government bus driver, was convicted of causing an accident on 24 February 2001 that killed four people and injured three near Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu. He appealed claiming his identity as the driver was doubtful since the driver fled, and that an on-coming lorry caused the accident. The Supreme Court upheld his conviction for offences under Sections 279, 337 and 304-A IPC, finding the appellant's identity amply proved by eyewitness testimony. The Court rejected the alternative causation plea and dismissed the appeal, refusing to reduce the sentence on grounds of time elapsed, emphasizing deterrence in rash driving cases.
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