5 years on, bus driver awarded 7 year RI for causing death of 3

According to the prosecution, the accident took place in January 2013, when Kadiriyappan (46) of Vallipattu village near Vaniyambadi was driving a private bus from Vellore to Tirupattur. When the vehicle neared Anpoondi road junction, the bus hit stones dumped on the roadside and overturned killing three persons on the spot and seriously injuring 6 more passengers. 

During investigations, police found out that Kadiriyappan was under the influence of liquor when the accident occurred. 

On Wednesday, when the case came up for hearing, Vellore additional sessions judge M Vetriselvi sentenced the driver to 7 years RI for manslaughter, 6 months for driving in an inebriated condition and another 3 years for attempt to murder. All the terms should be served concurrently, the judge said. Subsequently, Kadiriyappan was lodged in the Vellore central prison. 

Meanwhile, irate passengers detained a Tirupattur-bound private bus from Vellore on Tuesday after the conductor allegedly collected excess fare from them. 

Trouble started after the conductor demanded an additional amount of Rs 10 from the passengers. 

The conductor reportedly told them he could not refund the money as the passengers had already received the tickets. He suggested them to take another bus if they wanted. After a heated argument with the crew over the conductor’s demand for excess charge, passengers detained the bus near Pachakpuppam near Ambur. 

On information, Ambur taluk police rushed to the spot and tried to pacify the passengers. When questioned, the conductor told that the bus had been upgraded into an express service and that was why he took extra Rs 10, which was as per norms. Police then pacified the passengers, following which the bus was allowed to continue its journey.