2006 hit-and-run case accused surrenders before court

Mumbai: Alistair Pereira, convicted in a hit-and-run case, on Monday surrendered before a local court, days after the Supreme Court cancelled his bail for mowing down seven persons by his speeding car in 2006.

Mr. Pereira surrendered before the Sewri sessions court which ordered that he be taken into custody.

On January 12, the Supreme Court upheld the three year jail term awarded to the Mumbai-based businessman for running over seven persons sleeping on the pavement. However, the court said the punishment for the “despicable aggravated offence” was “too meagre”.

The Supreme Court, concurring with the Bombay High Court’s verdict of holding Mr. Pereira guilty for the offence, also said the sentence could not be enhanced as Maharashtra government had not filed an appeal challenging the jail term.

The Supreme Court had cancelled Mr. Pereira’s bail and directed him to “forthwith” surrender for undergoing the remaining sentence as awarded by the High Court in 2007 for the incident of November 12, 2006 in Mumbai.

The High Court had enhanced the six month imprisonment awarded by a trial court to three years and also imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh.