According to the Vile Parle police, Saniya, daughter of Manoj and Samina Chauhan, was sitting on the verandah of their residence at Khamkar Niwas in Paranjpe scheme Road number 3 when a Ford Ikon, driven by Rahul Suresh Kulkarni, 28, a doctor with KEM hospital who stays in the same locality, rammed the verandah, injuring her severely.

Suchita, 14, the Chauhans’ domestic help, was also injured in the incident.

Dr Kulkarni did not have a driving licence, the police said.

The incident took place around 8.45 pm, when Dr Kulkarni, accompanied by his brother and father, was taking a turn in their Ford Ikon, which they had bought just 10 days ago.

“At the turning near police chowkie beat number 3 where Khamkar Niwas is situated, Kulkarni wanted to take a left turn. He told us that by mistake he pressed the accelerator instead of the brakes. The car rammed the verandah crushing some small plants and hitting Saniya and the Suchita. Saniya was rushed to Nanavati hospital while Kulkarni was brought to the police station,” said Senior Inspector Maruti Naik of Vile Parle police station.

“Kulkarni did not have a motor driving licence. We arrested and booked him under Sections 279, 337 and 338 of the Indian Penal Code for rash and negligent driving and causing grievous hurt and endangering safety. Along with these sections, we have also booked him under Section 3 read with 181of the Motor Vehicle Act for driving without a licence. His father, Suresh Kulkarni, has also been booked under Section 5 read with Section 181 for allowing a person who does not have a valid licence to drive his vehicle,” Naik said.

The doctor was granted bail by a local court.

Suresh Kulkarni was allowed to go after a cash deposit of Rs 2,000 at the police station on Sunday.

After Saniya’s death, the police have decided to add Section 304 of IPC against Dr Kulkarni. “Since Saniya succumbed to her injuries, we shall add Section 304 against Dr Kulkarni for causing death due to negligence,” Naik added.

Meanwhile, a pall of gloom descended on the Chauhan household. “We were inside the house when Saniya was sitting on the verandah. Suddenly, the car rammed my daughter. We had to lift the car to remove Saniya from under it. She had barely begun to speak,” said Manoj, Saniya’s father, who works as an estate agent.

The baby’s mother, Samina, was inconsolable. “My world is lost. I cannot think of anything without Saniya. I was cooking at the time. I want the person responsible for my daughter’s death punished,” she said.