Patiala House Court : Issues Summons in BMW Accident Case Involving Senior Official Death
Patiala House Court: Delhi’s Patiala House Court has taken a significant step in the high-profile BMW accident case of 2025, issuing summons to the accused, Gagan Preet Kaur Makkad. The case has drawn wide public attention due to the tragic death of Navjot Singh, who was serving as a Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Finance. The court’s decision follows a detailed charge sheet filed by the Delhi Police, which outlines serious allegations related to culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
Court Takes Cognisance of Police Charge Sheet
On Thursday, the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC), Ankit Garg, formally took cognisance of the charge sheet submitted by Delhi Police. After examining the material placed on record, the court observed that the documents and evidence prima facie disclose the commission of an offence. Based on this assessment, the court ordered that summons be issued to the accused, directing her to appear on the next date of hearing scheduled for February 2.
The magistrate noted that offences under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) have been pressed by the prosecution. These include Section 105, which deals with culpable homicide not amounting to murder, along with Sections 281, 125B, and 238A.
Serious Charges Under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
According to the Delhi Police, the accident occurred due to the fault of the accused, who was driving the BMW involved in the incident near Dhaula Kuan. Investigators have alleged that after the accident, there was a deliberate delay in providing timely medical assistance to the victim. This delay, they claim, played a crucial role in the eventual death of Navjot Singh.
The charge sheet emphasizes that instead of taking the injured victim to nearby advanced medical facilities, the accused allegedly chose to transport him to a distant private nursing home. Police argue that this decision resulted in the loss of the critical “golden hour” in trauma care, significantly reducing the chances of survival.
Loss of Golden Hour and Hospital Choice
One of the key aspects highlighted in the charge sheet is the choice of hospital. The police have stated that reputed hospitals such as the Army Base Hospital and AIIMS Trauma Centre were located just 10 to 15 minutes away from the accident site. Despite this, the victim was taken to Nulife Hospital in GTB Nagar, which was approximately 20 kilometers away and required around 23 minutes of travel time.
Investigators have further pointed out that Nulife Hospital is a small two-storey nursing home with limited medical facilities. According to the post-mortem report, the survival time after the accident could have been at least 15 minutes if prompt and appropriate medical treatment had been provided.
Witness Statements and Technical Evidence
The charge sheet reportedly includes statements from 34 witnesses and runs into more than 400 pages, including supporting documents. Statements from the ambulance driver and his assistant were recorded under relevant legal provisions, with police maintaining that there was no fault on the part of the ambulance staff. A statement from a DTC bus driver who was present at the scene has also been included in the case file.
Police have also obtained a speed report from BMW to determine the velocity of the vehicle at the time of the accident. Additionally, forensic analysis through the Forensic Science Laboratory is underway to independently verify the speed and other technical aspects related to the crash.
Allegations of Misleading Investigation
Another serious allegation made by the investigators is that the accused attempted to mislead the investigation. It is claimed that she got herself admitted to the ICU despite sustaining only minor injuries, possibly to create a misleading narrative. Authorities are currently probing whether there was any manipulation of medical records in connection with this admission.
Furthermore, police have alleged that although an ambulance with a paramedic reached the accident spot within minutes, the accused refused ambulance assistance. This refusal, combined with the decision to go to a distant hospital, is being cited as evidence of deliberate delay in providing medical care.
Ongoing Investigation and Legal Proceedings
Delhi Police filed the charge sheet in December, and the investigation remains ongoing to uncover any deeper connections or possible manipulation related to the hospital choice and medical treatment. With the court now issuing summons, the case is expected to move into a more active phase of judicial scrutiny in the coming weeks.
The BMW accident case continues to raise critical questions about accountability, timely medical response, and the legal consequences of decisions made in the aftermath of serious road accidents.