Nagabhushan: I was not drunk and did not run away after the fatal accident

Around 9.30 pm on September 30, Kannada actor Nagabhushan was involved in a road accident, when the vehicle he was driving mowed down two pedestrians, one of who succumbed to the injuries sustained, while the other remains in serious condition in hospital. Following the incident, there were several rumours, including that the actor was intoxicated at the time of the accident and that he ran away from the spot subsequently (hit-and-run). Nagabhushan, who has remained incommunicado since the incident, as he’s been mentally shaken, addressed the media to set the record straight on some of these rumours.

Tagarupalya actor Nagabhushana arrested after he runs over couple with his car; 1 dies 

After the accident, Nagabhushan attempted to take the two pedestrians (a husband-wife couple out on a post-dinner walk) to the nearest hospital, but since one side of his car’s bumper had come off and was dragging, he decided to pull it entirely off to be able to drive again. The completely removed front bumper was then seen as a sign of the severity of the impact, which he says is not the truth. The actor adds that his blood test revealed no trace of alcohol and that he did not attempt to flee the spot at any time. In fact, while taking the victims of the accident to hospital, he informed the police of the accident and has been cooperating with law enforcement in the investigation.

The actor has been charged under Section 337 and 304 of the Indian Penal Code, both pertaining to rash and negligent acts endangering human life and causing death. “There were reports that I was speeding on that stretch, but if you see it, you will know that it is not possible to drive very fast. When the incident happened, there was a car in the opposite lane, which was jutting into my side of the road, leaving me with very little space and that’s when the couple appeared in front of my car,” he explains. Nagabhushan, who was accompanied by his lawyer, also said that he has been in touch with the kin of the accident victims and offered them any help possible.

The actor, who was arrested following the incident, was released on station bail subsequently.