New Delhi: The Patiala House Court has extended the judicial custody of Gaganpreet Kaur, the main accused in the high-profile BMW accident case in Delhi, until September 27. The court also scheduled her bail plea hearing for September 20, while issuing a notice to Delhi Police on her plea seeking preservation of CCTV footage from the accident scene.
Gaganpreet Kaur (38) was arrested on September 15 in connection with the death of Navjot Singh (52), a Deputy Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs, Finance Ministry, after a BMW allegedly driven by her collided with his bike in Central Delhi.
Defense Alleges Bias in Charges, Points to Other Responsible Parties
In court, senior advocate Ramesh Gupta, representing Gaganpreet, challenged the police version, claiming that the incident was a tragic but common road accident, not an intentional act.
- He argued that the case should be filed under Section 304A IPC (causing death by negligence), not Section 304 IPC (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), which carries a far more severe punishment of up to life imprisonment.
- Gupta further alleged that a DTC bus was involved in the collision and that its driver should also be arrested.
- He also pointed fingers at a passing ambulance, which, according to him, refused to carry the injured, thereby contributing to the fatal outcome.
“Why Was the Victim Taken to a Distant Hospital?” – Police & Victim’s Family Raise Questions
Delhi Police responded that Gaganpreet deliberately avoided a nearby Army Hospital, despite repeated pleas from Sandeep Kaur, the deceased’s wife, to take him there. Instead, she allegedly took Navjot to a hospital where she had prior connections, which may have delayed treatment.
- Police also claimed that Gaganpreet was not seriously injured, contrary to the defense narrative.
- The van driver who was present during the incident reportedly confirmed that Gaganpreet drove past a closer hospital.
The victim’s family lawyer further emphasized that Army Hospital was directly opposite the accident location and accused the accused of negligence, suggesting that this delay in medical attention led to Navjot’s death.
Court to Hear CCTV Footage Preservation Plea on Thursday
Given the conflicting narratives, Gaganpreet’s legal team filed a petition requesting the preservation of CCTV footage from the accident site to ensure fair trial proceedings.
The court issued a notice to Delhi Police on this petition and will hear the matter on Thursday (Sept 19).
Charges Against Gaganpreet Kaur
According to Delhi Police, a case has been registered under the following IPC sections-
- Section 304 – Culpable homicide not amounting to murder
- Section 281 – Negligent conduct with respect to machinery
- Section 125B, 105, and 238 – (Details of specific charges still pending confirmation)
Background of the Incident
The tragic accident resulted in the death of Navjot Singh (52) and serious injuries to his wife Sandeep Kaur. The case has stirred public attention due to–
- Alleged negligence in medical aid
- The speeding BMW
- Involvement of other vehicles like the DTC bus
- Possible deliberate misdirection in medical response
Gaganpreet’s husband and children were also reportedly in the car and suffered injuries. According to her defense, she personally rushed the couple to the hospital despite being injured herself.
What’s Next?
- September 19: Hearing on the CCTV footage preservation petition
- September 20: Bail plea hearing
- September 27: Next judicial custody review
