[shankar.balan]

Originally Posted by rajeev k

If an accident happens and if there is no casualties, then it is quite normal practice for the parties involved to settle the issue. A General Diary entry in the Police station under whose jurisdiction the accident site falls is enough to claim insurance compensation. Moreover, if the Audi and the Elantra owners agrees with the Aston Martin's owner and if they are compensated, then there is nothing more to it.

Isn't over speeding an offence? Would those security cameras not have captured the speeding car? Could the famed forensic studies boys not determine the speed at which the vehicle was travelling?
Are the eyewitnesses accounts worthless?
Is the post accident condition of the vehicle , not a good enough indicator of the speed?
Is there no chance of getting DNA evidence from the vehicle and thus proving without a doubt the culprit?

India truly seems to be a Banana Republic containing repulsive, sycophantic mango idiots who can wax eloquent about everything but who in the same breath are struck dumb with their mouths sewn shut when it comes to some inconvenient scenarios.

Where are our self appointed truth seekers OrrKnob and gang? The Nation would like to know!

Apparently money and influence talks like nothing else!

[carboy]

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

Is there no chance of getting DNA evidence from the vehicle and thus proving without a doubt the culprit?

How exactly would that work?

[drmohitg]

Originally Posted by carboy

How exactly would that work?

Probably blood marks in case the driver got the slightest scratches. Otherwise it would not work as the car would have multiple DNA samples from all the occupants.

[carboy]

Originally Posted by drmohitg

Probably blood marks in case the driver got the slightest scratches.

He could have got the scratches the earlier day.

Originally Posted by drmohitg

Otherwise it would not work as the car would have multiple DNA samples from all the occupants.

Exactly, no prosecutor could even consider using this kind of evidence - unless the defendant's contention is that he has never ever sat in the car. Or atleast in a very long time.

[shankar.balan]

With the advances in Forensic science, I am sure they can establish within reasonable limits, when the particular person left DNA traces in the vehicle. However, now that it is more than a week since the accident, I guess that the case will die a natural death. Equally, I am sure the underground will be buzzing with the factual news. I guess someday there will be a whistle-blower popping up!

They should arrest the boy on suspicion and then do a lie detector test. I guess of course, with the levels of money and influence involved, even the truth, whatever it may be, will end up never seeing the light of day!

Seriously, these people could give Robert Ludlum's books a run for their money in terms of 'suppression of evidence' and 'muzzling the world around them'!

[carboy]

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

With the advances in Forensic science, I am sure they can establish within reasonable limits, when the particular person left DNA traces in the vehicle.

No, they cannot establish within a tolerance of 1 day or lesser.

[F150]

It proves the point yet again, that people who have the muscle and are connected can get away with anything, and this is not un-natural and happens in most parts of the world.

[rajeev k]

Originally Posted by Spinnerr

On a lighter note...News in UnReal Times link

Possible, as the alleged driver escaped without a scratch then it could be the handiwork of some unreal element if it is not the praiseworthy driver safety system of the Aston.

[StarScream]

Originally Posted by Chetan_Rao

Disclaimer 1: I did not want to derail either the 'Accidents In India' or 'Exotic Car Crashes' thread by posting there, but this topic deserves to be discussed and reported, since the usual 'mass' media seems to be in no mood to do so.

I just have a few simple questions: Why is no respectable media house covering this incident? Every single report (however mundane and non-incriminating/accusatory) has either been edited to remove names or taken down completely.

If this is what journalism has come down to in our country, we should be ashamed. Really ashamed.

Originally Posted by apachelongbow

Its the usual, rich business house thinking they are above the law, using all kinds of powers to manipulate facts and either hide the truth or send out their own version of the truth. Not blaming or naming any business house, but all these big companies/celebrities/politicos have an efficient PR department, who hide/bribe/spin out facts to suit their image.
The easiest thing to do in-case your family member is involved in a fatal crash is to blame the driver/bribe him into spending a few years in jail (if any), and escape. This classic formula has been used since like forever!!!
If it were a smaller business house and not the country's largest corporate, the media would have been hounding them and all kinds of articles would have been written, but these guys are so big and connected, that they seem to put a lid on our media too.

Originally Posted by devilwearsprada

The problem is journalism in this country is a selective filtering mechanism. What comes as breaking news, is not actually breaking, but is presented as one.

However, what I would say is that this is just a normal Car accident, where both the people in the other two cars are safe and sound with very minor injuries.

Now coming to the AM, we are not even sure whether the person driving it belonged to the family or not. So, lets put our judgmental skills to a rest, and ignore the hunger for media masala as this is just another car accident which involves a high-speed car.

Originally Posted by drmohitg

We talk about media being biased. Aren't we biased? There was no casualty in this accident. There are hundreds of such accidents occurring daily in the country. So why are we dedicating space and an exclusive thread to this incident? Only because it involves a big name? There are always 2 sides to a coin.

Originally Posted by GTO

Since there were no casualties, it's really not a big deal from the news point of view. Pretty much local news and Mumbai Mirror has indeed covered it.

That said, the silence from others is surprising, considering how our news hungry websites & channels convert any small development to 'breaking news'. There is definitely more than meets the eye here.

Originally Posted by carboy

They have a stake in many channels. And they advertise on the others. Owners and advertisers control Indian news channels anyway - it's not particular to this case. The same thing is done by the Govt also. What do you think all these 'polio shots' ads are for? They give the Govt control over media. Why do you think the US had a "war against drugs" campaign going on for a decade?

Exactly what carboy says - Mukesh controls the media, either directly as in the case of TV18, or though the ad spend of his companies, which explains why the Jains won't allow it to be covered in TOI or Times Now:
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/b.../1/168680.html

The one place he doesn't control and whose billionaire chairman Subhash Chandra has no love lost for the Ambanis is Zee News:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-TrxsFZ2yg

Listen around the 2:40 mark. The lady clearly says who she saw driving the car and how drunk he was.

[drmohitg]

Found the video hilarious. The typical media portrayal of a rich man as the country's biggest criminal. So the news reporter wants to link Ambani's son arriving at a party in the same on a different date as evidence pointing to him being the car on that day too. There is absolutely no point in fretting over this incident as no way the cops or anyone can prove now that his son was the driver. At best the victims should feel happy that they didn't get seriously hurt and would probably be compensated by Reliance.

What I am interested in is a bigger question. With money and fame, do parents decide to become so lenient with there children that they are allowing them these expensive toys without any sense of responsibility. Even the Aston martin driver could have been killed. Reminds me of Azharuddin's son's death from a bike crash some months ago. Don't they ever learn?

[StarScream]

Originally Posted by drmohitg

Found the video hilarious. The typical media portrayal of a rich man as the country's biggest criminal. So the news reporter wants to link Ambani's son arriving at a party in the same on a different date as evidence pointing to him being the car on that day too. There is absolutely no point in fretting over this incident as no way the cops or anyone can prove now that his son was the driver. At best the victims should feel happy that they didn't get seriously hurt and would probably be compensated by Reliance.

What I am interested in is a bigger question. With money and fame, do parents decide to become so lenient with there children that they are allowing them these expensive toys without any sense of responsibility. Even the Aston martin driver could have been killed. Reminds me of Azharuddin's son's death from a bike crash some months ago. Don't they ever learn?

I can't quite figure out your stand - do you agree or disagree with what happened? Sure the video is sensational but it answers questions about the coverage of the accident. One channel has had the guts to say it as it is - let's acknowledge that. And by showing who was seen in this car last they are suggesting who drives it. I don't know about you but it answers a key question for me: who was the VIP that was whisked away from the scene by his security escort?

This isn't about going after the rich guy. It's about the rich guy behaving in a manner that shows he doesn't care for the law. It is pure luck that nobody was seriously injured. Even if there was serious injury, I doubt the security people would have behaved any differently. They obviously didn't wait long enough to find out and check on those the Aston Martin hit.

I would have been impressed if he owned up and faced the authorities like a man. Any one of us would have had to face the music if we did half this damage on the roads. Why is this guy special?

[drmohitg]

Originally Posted by StarScream

I can't quite figure out your stand - do you agree or disagree with what happened? Sure the video is sensational but it answers questions about the coverage of the accident. One channel has had the guts to say it as it is - let's acknowledge that.

This isn't about going after the rich guy. It's about the rich guy behaving in a manner that shows he doesn't care for the law.

I don't have a stand because taking a stand in this "Pseudo Democracy" of ours is no longer a feasible option. All I have to say is:

1. The rich and powerful are above the law in our country. You can break your head over that and try denying it by citing a few example perhaps, but most of the times that is true. Even for instance if the driver was arrested at the time of accident, I can bet my house on this that the cops would have failed to conduct a alcohol test on him at that time or botched up the report later. Anyways he would have gone scot free and money would have exchanged hands. In my eyes too and as I mentioned in my post before too, there is little doubt that it was someone important who was driving the car. A humble chauffeur of reliance would not be driving a aston martin alone in the middle of the night followed by a whole caravan of security officials. But even though deep down we all know who it was, the law cannot be enforced on mere speculation unless the cops have some concrete evidence which they don't or would have purposely destroyed.

2. Coming to the second part of the story. Imagine this: A speeding maruti swift at 1 A.M. hits a Hyundai Santro and then a Toyota Etios. No causalities. Do you think the media would cover it with so much intensity? Would we be interested in it? Would we have a thread for the same here and trying to pass a judgement of guilt on some low key driver of the swift? The answer is NO. We would not. The first eye catchy juicy and interesting thing in this accident is that it has a Aston Martin involved. Expensive car. No sorry super expensive car. People cannot afford a house worth that much. And here is this guy driving a car. So naturally he is projected as a villain. Secondly you find out that the car is owned by a powerful family. So again the picture is painted of a rich powerful family abusing the laws of the country and exploiting everyone below them. I have a problem with this assumption. Let me give you another example which is real and happened a couple of years back now. Someone I know has a luxury car costing around 80L. Now this couple were returning home from a marriage ceremony on a foggy night in delhi and at an intersection they bumped into a bike. Due to the fog both parties didn't spot each other and both were at fault for not driving slower and stopping at the intersection to make sure it was safe to cross. Anyways luckily the bikers escaped with some injuries but otherwise had a full recovery. But what did the media project? Almost all local channels and 2 national level channels ran it as breaking news where a " Speeding 80L Rs Car XYZ rammed into a "poor bike" without any consideration for the law etc etc". On top of it they even had a lady witness shouting on the mike who apparently saw the whole thing and claimed that the driver was drunk. How do I know that the driver was not drunk? Because the couple called me to there house as they were very much shaken by the incident and we shared a drink to calm down there nerves. So our media is no saint and usually the rich and famous will always be victimized in there news verdict.

[msdivy]

Originally Posted by drmohitg

In my eyes too and as I mentioned in my post before too, there is little doubt that it was someone important who was driving the car. A humble chauffeur of reliance would not be driving a aston martin alone in the middle of the night followed by a whole caravan of security officials.

Originally Posted by drmohitg

Sorry I do not agree. People suspect that the driver was switched because :
1. Its a 4.5 Cr luxury car and its very much easy and fun to view such a rich man/family as a corrupt and deceitful one. This is the normal reaction each time a luxury car is involved.

2. The car is registered to Reliance industries, one of the biggest names in India and hence everyone wants to play sherlock and smells a conspiracy.

I am playing the devil's advocate here although deep down even I am convinced that the culprit must have been switched for the simple reason that a mere chauffeur driving an Aston martin would not be followed with two Honda CRVs as escort vehicles to whisk him away. But that cannot be proved in court.

1) A luxury car met with accident (This is fact).
2) The driver was switched (you agree on this).
3) Web sites reported this news and later removed the news from their sites (this is fact).

This thread is about why the news were removed. From your posts I get that people must not be interested in anything related to this accident. Is it so?

[drmohitg]

Originally Posted by msdivy

1) A luxury car met with accident (This is fact).

Agreed.

2) The driver was switched (you agree on this).

I agree but there is no fact to prove this. Only speculation. And the reasons for that speculation are also questionable.

3) Web sites reported this news and later removed the news from their sites (this is fact).

There was a simple regular accident involving 3 vehicles where there was some damage to the vehicles but no loss of life. A person came forward to claim responsibility. So as a new channel I should report the incident and then this outcome and end it there. There are other important issues out there than to give recurrent space to mere speculations and conspiracy theories which cannot be proved.

This thread is about why the news were removed. From your posts I get that people must not be interested in anything related to this accident. Is it so?

People are interested. But why? Expensive car and rich family? So we cannot accept the possibility that it may not lead to punishment for one of the family members because it will fulfill some sort of sense of higher justice within us?

Then we should also have a thread and regular news channel space devoted to why a certain actor is given free holidays from jail every other month on questionable grounds.

As a reader I would be more glad if the news channels ran a series of dedicated articles on why the Adarsh scam report was not accepted by the government? And a million other such issues. A minor accident doesn't merit any more coverage than it has already got.

[srishiva]

Its funny (or very intelligent!) that a overweight driver was somehow planted to claim responsibility Now I know the weight but not the age.