A Mumbai court has convicted a 66-year-old former government driver for a 2017 hit-and-run accident that left a teenage girl in a vegetative state for months. The court sentenced him to a fine of ₹20,000, choosing a lenient approach due to his age, retirement status, and financial condition.
The 2017 Churchgate Accident
The incident occurred on May 28, 2017, near Mumbai’s Churchgate station. The victim, Nidhi Jethmalani, then 17 years old, was crossing the street at a zebra crossing on her way to a college for Class 12 admissions.
According to case records, a speeding Toyota Innova—belonging to the then Railway Commissioner—ran a red light at an estimated 70 km/h and struck Jethmalani. The driver, P Narayanasamy Poosaripadaiyachi, alongside the commissioner, rushed her to a hospital in their vehicle. Poosaripadaiyachi was arrested the same day for rash driving and released on bail a few hours later.
Jethmalani suffered catastrophic trauma to her head and waist. She underwent major emergency brain surgeries, including a right decompressive craniotomy and lax duraplasty, and remained hospitalized in a vegetative state for over three months before being discharged for long-term home care.
Why the Criminal Court Took a Lenient View
On Friday, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Supriya Vijaysinh Nikam convicted Poosaripadaiyachi under the Indian Penal Code for rash and negligent driving but opted against a prison sentence.
The court highlighted several mitigating factors for its leniency:
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A Single Lapse: The accused had no prior criminal record and had co-operated with the legal system.
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Ordeal of Trial: The driver had been traveling from Chennai to Mumbai for every single hearing over a nine-year period.
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Financial Standing: Having retired from service in 2020, the 66-year-old is currently living entirely on a basic pension and lacks financial means.
“Considering the fact that the accused is a first offender… more than eight years have passed, the accused has already faced the ordeal of trial… the Court is inclined to take a lenient view. Imposing fine will be the appropriate sentence in present matter,” the Magistrate stated in the official order.
The Compensation Battle: Parallel to Aruna Shanbaug
While the criminal court handled the driver’s immediate sentence, a parallel battle for medical compensation has been fought by the victim’s family across higher judicial forums:
| Year | Judicial Body | Legal Outcome & Compensation Orders |
| 2021 | Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) | Awarded Jethmalani ₹70 lakh in standard compensation alongside a ₹1.5 crore medical corpus fund to manage her ongoing healthcare expenses. |
| 2025 | Bombay High Court | Hearing an appeal filed by her father, the High Court drew a heartbreaking parallel between Jethmalani and Aruna Shanbaug (who spent 42 years in a vegetative state). The bench officially directed the Ministry of Railways to reconsider and process a final settlement claim of ₹5 crore to secure her lifelong treatment. |
