BENGALURU: The Eighteen-year-old Kirtan Richie, who has been arrested for causing the death of his pillion rider by performing a wheelie, did not possess a driving licence, police sources said. Also, Kirtan used the ‘modified bike’ of his 16-year-old friend to perform the wheelie stunt.
On September 1, Shiny Kiran, a 18-year-old girl, died on the spot after she fell from the bike as Kirtan performed a wheelie on Old Madras Road.
A goods vehicle had run over her, resulting in her death.
According to police, Kirtan, a first year Fashion Technology student at a private institution in the city, used to perform wheelie on empty roads on a regular basis.
Two years ago, his father had bought him a sports bike, which met with an accident. After the accident, Kirtan had resorted to using his friends’ vehicles to perform stunts.
Police said, “Kirtan had met the victim for the first time on August 27, at a pub in Koramangala and had befriended her.
Ahead of the incident, a 16-year-old boy had purchased a second-hand RX-135 bike with the help of Kirtan on August 31 from Thippasandra. The bike was specially modified for wheelie and stunts.”
“On September 1, Kirtan borrowed the RX-135 bike from the friend and picked up Shiny near KFC restaurant in Indiranagar. He then took her to Kasturi Nagar Park.
On their way back, Kirtan attempted a wheelie in front of Gopalan Mall, which resulted in her death. Shockingly, Kirtan, instead of attempting to save the girl, sped away from the spot,” police added.
Kirtan has been arrested under IPC Section 304. The Canter driver Raghu D has also been arrested.
After the incident, Kirtan was staying at his friend’s house. He had switched off his cell phone and used to call his father D Venkatesh, owner of Jive pub, from different phones.
By then, the police who had information about him, had detained his father for questioning. Venkatesh was at the police station when Kirtan called him. Police asked Venkatesh to speak to him and arrange for a meeting. As planned, Venkatesh met Kirtan at Indiranagar, where police nabbed him.
Also, his 16-year-old minor friend has been sent to State Home and his father has also been arrested under IPC 304 (Punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder).