A mere technicality granted drunken driving accused Alistair Pereira at least a couple of days of extended freedom on Monday. Pereira, who surrendered to the police on Monday following the Supreme Court judgement, was allowed to go home, as the local court in Mumbai has not yet received a copy of the verdict.
According to the Khar police, Pereira arrived at the Khar police station on Monday morning with his lawyer and told the police that he was surrendering in light of the SC verdict, which sentenced him to three years of rigorous imprisonment.
“Accordingly, we completed the necessary formalities and produced him in the fast-track court in Sewri. He was well-behaved and polite throughout,” said Pratap Dighavkar, deputy commissioner of police, Zone 9.
However, as the certified copy of the verdict hadn’t reached the Sewri court, Pereira was allowed to go home. The court has asked the police to produce the judgment copy and only then approach the court.
In 2006, Periera had run over seven pavement dwellers sleeping in Bandra while driving under the influence of alcohol; the victims included two minors and a pregnant woman. The local court let him off with only six months of imprisonment, and the verdict was challenged in the high court.