Kolkata hit-and-run: TMC leader's son admits he was driving Audi

Sambia Sohrab, the main accused in Red Road hit-and-run case and son of state Trinamool Congress member Mohammed Sohrab, confessed on Friday that he was behind the wheels of the car which mowed down an Indian Air Force officer during a Republic Day parade rehearsal here, police said.

According to a top Kolkata Police officer, Sambia broke down during a prolonged interrogation being held since Friday morning and confessed that he was driving the white color brand new Audi on the fateful morning of January 13 which killed IAF officer Abhimanyu Gaud.

"Sambia has been giving us false statements to misdirect. Since day one of interrogation, he has been giving us contradictory versions regarding the mishap. Sometimes, he said he was not driving the car but it was Sonu, his friend and another accused, behind the wheels. But today some strategic interrogation helped us getting Sambia’s confession," the Kolkata Police official said.

Police sleuths have also arrested Sonu and Johnnie, both friends of Sambia.

During the investigation, it was found that on the night before the mishap, Sambia, his elder brother Ambia, Sonu and Johnnie, along with others, attended a party at Doighat in the Port area of the city.

Sambia, the officer said, has also admitted that he was alone in the car while Sonu and Johnnie were in another vehicle.

Incidentally, the two have been claiming that they were not travelling in the Audi, which Sambia was driving.

The Kolkata police has seized a Skoda, which the two accused claimed that they were driving.

Talking about Ambia and father and TMC member Mohammed Sohrab’s whereabouts, another top source in the Kolkata police said as per their information, the duo were trying to cross over to Bangladesh.

"We have accordingly alerted forces at the Bangladesh border," the sources said.

A city court on Thursday had issued a arrest warrant against Mohammed Sohrab.

The three arrested have been booked under Indian Penal Code Sections 120(B) (criminal conspiracy), 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence), 212 (harbouring offender) and 427 (mischief causing damage).