Court grants bail to bus driver in Bhandup accident case

Police officers at the scene after the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) bus accident. File | Photo credit: PTI

The Bombay High Court has granted bail to BEST bus driver Santosh Sawant in the Bhandup station accident that left four dead and 12 injured.

The court said the defense argument had substance at the bail stage: Sawant may not have received the training required by BEST to operate a bus that runs on electricity. Justice Shyam Chandak observed this while granting bail.

The court took cognizance of the letter sent by the BEST depot manager to the police on January 7. The letter stated that the business did not have a certificate to confirm whether Sawant had undergone training to drive an electric bus. Sawant’s name was not on the list of drivers who had training. BEST entrusted Sawant with operating the bus on Route 606 from December 1, 2025, even though Sawant’s name was not on the list.

The prosecution alleged that Sawant was driving the bus with speed and carelessness when the bus went out of control near Bhandup (West) railway station. The bus hit pedestrians who were standing near the bus stop.

Devendra Patil, Sawant’s lawyer, alleged that BEST had commissioned Sawant to drive the bus, which runs on electricity, although Sawant had not undergone training. The defense argued that the refusal to assign could have led to disciplinary action and the loss of employment. The court was told that there was no indication that Sawant was driving the bus at speed deliberately or that he was under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The court held that Sawant had been working with BEST since 2011 and had no accident record. The court also noted that the trial may not end soon and that the case has 56 witnesses.

Sawant approached the High Court after the Sessions Court rejected Sawant’s bail plea. Sawant has been in jail for 11 months since Sawant’s arrest. The court accepted Sawant’s argument and granted him bail.

Published – 04 Nov 2026 23:21 IST