Cyrus Mistry Accident: HC Asks Petitioner's Locus Standi Over PIL Seeking Culpable Homicide Charge

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday sought to know a man’s locus standi, his right to approach the court, over his PIL seeking the inclusion of culpable homicide charge against Dr Anahita Pandole, who was driving the car that crashed and killed former Tata Sons chairman Cyrus Mistry. While hearing the PIL on Tuesday, a division bench of acting Chief Justice S V Gangapurwala and Justice Sandeep Marne sought to know Jedhe’s locus standi in the case and how the high court can do the job of a magistrate. In his petition, the petitioner refers to a CCTV footage allegedly indicating that Anahita Pandole had been consuming liquor at a café on the previous night before she drove the vehicle carrying Mistry, among others. The petition further states that Darius Pandole should also be charged with the offence under section 304 IPC along with Anahita Pandole, as he was the owner of the vehicle, and he had not prevented his wife from driving the vehicle despite allegedly being aware of “her drinking habits”.