Rahul Gandhi unhurt as vehicles in his convoy collide on Purvanchal Expressway; UP Police form SIT
text_fields
Lucknow: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi escaped unhurt on Monday after several vehicles in his convoy collided on the Purvanchal Expressway while he was on his way to Sultanpur to appear before a court in a defamation case.
Police said the incident, which occurred around 10.15 am, was not serious and no major injuries were reported. The convoy resumed its journey to Sultanpur shortly after the collision.
According to officials, a private vehicle at the front of the convoy, belonging to local Congress leaders, braked suddenly, leading the vehicles behind it to ram into one another. The vehicles had joined the convoy midway and were carrying passengers, including Congress workers from neighbouring Amethi district.
Later in the day, the Uttar Pradesh Police constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the accident on the directions of Director General of Police Rajeev Krishna.
The SIT will examine the circumstances and causes of the collision and determine whether there was any negligence or lapse in security, escort arrangements or traffic management.
The team has been asked to conduct a comprehensive investigation and submit a detailed report to police headquarters at the earliest. It has also been directed to suggest measures to prevent similar incidents in future.
Gandhi’s convoy, escorted by police personnel, was scheduled to reach the Sultanpur court around 11.15 am. He was travelling there for a hearing in a defamation case over alleged objectionable remarks against then BJP president Amit Shah at a rally in Bengaluru ahead of the 2018 Karnataka Assembly elections.