Though the arrested driver kept telling the police that the vehicle belonged to the ruling party candidate from Hamirpur Lok Sabha seat, Vijay Bahadur Singh, police officers said they are trying to ascertain its ownership.

The circle officer (city) Mahoba, Raj Kamal Yadav, said, “The driver was taking Vijay Bahadur Singh’s name merely to avoid police action. It appears that the vehicle belongs to one of his supporters. The BSP leader is presently in Lucknow and there was no possibility of his vehicle moving in the city without him.”

“The boy was riding a bicycle and took a right turn suddenly on the road when the driver failed to avoid the accident. The incident took place around 11.30 am,” he said.

Asked later in the day if the police have established the vehicle’s ownership, the CO said, “Since the registration number of the vehicle was that of Delhi and the driver was not disclosing the name of the actual owner, we are seeking help of the Regional Transport Office (RTO) to get details.”

Additional SP Mahoba Santosh Kumar Singh said, “No, Vijay Bahadur Singh has nothing to do with the vehicle. He is in Lucknow presently. Anybody using the BSP flag can not be treated as the leader himself. The driver who caused the accident is behind the bars and the vehicle has been seized. The police have done its job.”

SHO Kotwali BN Singh said, “The incident took place when the victim, Ram Prakash, a Class IX student, was his way to home on a bicycle. He was about to reach home and took a right turn when the Safari (DL 3C-6733) knocked him down. The victim was rushed to the hospital where he was declared brought dead.”