Urmila Kothare Seeks Transfer of Probe to Mumbai Crime Branch in Fatal Accident Case

Mumbai, February 13, 2025 – Popular Marathi actor Urmila Kothare, whose car was involved in a fatal accident in December 2024, has approached the Bombay High Court seeking the transfer of the ongoing investigation to the Crime Branch of the Mumbai Police. The actor's vehicle hit a labourer near the Poisar Metro Station in Kandivali, resulting in the worker's death and injuries to others, including Kothare and her driver.

On February 12, a division bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Dr. Neela Gokhale heard Kothare’s petition and issued a notice to the concerned respondents. The Court also directed the police to preserve crucial evidence, including CCTV footage and the Mechanical Inspection Report of the vehicle involved in the incident.

The accident occurred in the early hours of December 28, 2024, as Kothare was returning from a shooting. According to the petition, Kothare was asleep in the car while her driver, Gajanan Pal, was at the wheel. The actor claims the accident was caused by the lack of warning signs and precautionary measures at the site of ongoing construction of a Foot Over Bridge (FOB) outside Poisar Metro Station. The site lacked caution boards or "work in progress" signage, and the presence of heavy machinery and obstructed traffic contributed to the mishap.

The petition filed by Kothare’s advocate, Amarendra Mishra, states that the driver lost consciousness in the crash, rendering him unable to recount the exact sequence of events. Kothare, her driver, and two labourers working at the construction site were injured in the incident, with one of the workers tragically losing his life.

In the aftermath, the driver, Pal, was arrested but was later granted bail by a Magistrate Court. Kothare’s plea emphasizes the contractor's responsibility to ensure safety measures were in place at the construction site. She has called for a thorough investigation and the transfer of the probe to the Crime Branch to ensure impartiality and a detailed inquiry into the incident.

As the case progresses, all eyes will be on the Bombay High Court’s decision regarding the transfer of the investigation and the steps taken by authorities to address the safety concerns raised in the petition.