BellaCH at 15:17, 4 January 2023

2023-01-04T15:17:36Z

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{{Current event|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox news event
| title = 2023 Delhi hit-and-run case
| image =
| image_upright =
| caption =
| date = 1 January 2023
| time = 2 AM [[Indian Standard Time|IST]] ([[UTC+05:30]])
| place = [[Kanjhawala]], [[Delhi]], [[India]]
| sentence=
| arrests =
| suspects =
| accused = 5
| convictions =
| convicted =
| outcome =
| reported death(s) = 1
}}

In early hours of 1 January 2023, a 20-year old girl riding the scooter while her friend was on pillion was hit by Maruti Suzuki Baleno with five drunk men in Outer Delhi’s Sultanpuri.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-64149436|title=Delhi hit-and-run: Young woman's horrific death shocks India}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/they-fought-swapped-seats-on-the-scooter-what-we-know-about-delhis-hit-and-run-victim-and-her-friend-11921812.html|title=Delhi hit-and-run horror: Why did the victim’s friend flee the scene?}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/delhi-news/anjali-singh-car-accident-case-she-was-screaming-driver-knew-friend-of-delhi-woman-dragged-by-car-3661148|title="I Felt So Hopeless That I Went Home": Friend Remembers Delhi Car Horror}}</ref> The girl's leg got stuck in the car’s axle and she was dragged for around 13 kilometres.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/anjali-singh-death-kanjhawala-accident-women-public-space-8358038/|title=Death of Anjali Singh: Delhi road accident once again shows how public spaces are hostile to women}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/anjalis-death-begs-the-question-where-were-the-police-8357515/|title=Anjali’s death begs the question: Where were the police?}}</ref> It eventually resulted in her painful death.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/fsl-team-conducts-mechanical-inspection-of-car-in-delhi-hit-and-run-case/articleshow/96735422.cms|title=Delhi girl dragged: FSL team conducts mechanical inspection of car in hit-and-run case}}</ref><ref name="newyear">{{cite web|url=https://theprint.in/india/anjali-singh-delhis-hit-and-run-victim-risked-life-to-earn-for-family-hoped-to-open-salon/1296196/|title=Anjali Singh, Delhi’s hit-and-run victim, ‘risked life’ to earn for family & hoped to open salon}}</ref> The incident generated widespread national and international coverage and was widely condemned, both in India and abroad.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/india/india-car-anjali-singh-body-bjp-hit-and-run-b2255214.html|title=Horror as woman’s body dragged under car for more than an hour after Delhi hit and run}}</ref> Subsequently, public protests against the central government for failing to provide adequate security for women took place in Delhi.<ref name="shaming">{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/sultanpuri-kanjhawala-delhi-woman-dragged-by-car-had-40-external-injuries-base-of-skull-fractured-brain-matter-missing-says-autopsy-sources-3662026|title=Woman's Skull Fractured, Ribs Exposed: Extent Of Delhi Car Horror}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/post-mortem-report-of-delhi-woman-reveals-there-was-no-injury-suggestive-of-a-sexual-assault-467013|title=Delhi car-drag horror case: Post-mortem report of Sultanpuri victim reveals no sexual assault}}</ref>

==Incident==
Anjali left Vivan Palace [[Oyo Rooms|OYO hotel]] at around 1.30 a.m. along with her friend Nidhi after attending a New Year's party.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/delhi-accident-victims-friend-records-statement-says-car-driver-at-fault-1177582.html|title=Delhi accident victim's friend records statement, says car driver at fault}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-kanjhawala-death-nidhi-booked-delhi-oyo-room-104-for-rs-800-anjali-was-abusing-her-3014902|title=Kanjhawala death: Nidhi booked Delhi Oyo Room 104 for Rs 800, Anjali was abusing her; here's what she told police}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/delhi-hit-and-run-case-car-occupants-knew-victim-was-stuck-beneath-alleges-friend-and-eyewitness-1177585.html|title=Delhi hit-and-run case: Car occupants knew victim was stuck beneath, alleges friend and eyewitness}}</ref> Anjali was wearing a pink T-shirt and Nidhi a red one. The five accused had first gone to Haryana's [[Murthal]] for a dhaba food to mark the New Year 2023.<ref name="inebriated">{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/murthal-trip-gone-wrong-kin-of-accused-in-kanjhawala-case-recall-fateful-night-8359739/|title=Murthal trip gone wrong: Kin of accused in Anjali Singh case recall fateful night}}</ref> They were drunk at the time of the incident.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/2-bottles-of-liquor-murthal-joyride-what-5-men-in-car-did-before-delhi-horror-3660594|title=2 Bottles Of Liquor, Murthal Joyride: What 5 Men In Car Did Before Delhi Horror}}</ref><ref name="inebriated"/> The naked body of Anjali was found near Hanuman Mandir at Jonti village in Sultanpuri.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/cities/delhi/story/delhi-kanjhawala-sultanpuri-accident-anjali-death-police-autopsy-2316817-2023-01-03|title=60 hours after Anjali's horrific death in Delhi, many questions but few answers}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/sultanpuri-kanjhawala-anjali-singh-delhi-woman-dragged-driver-had-realised-something-was-stuck-but-3658904|title=New Horror In Delhi Case: Driver Felt Something Was Wrong, Others Said No}}</ref> Her body was sent to the Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Mangolpuri, Delhi.<ref name="gramin">{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/delhi-hit-run-men-removed-womans-body-from-car-drove-away/articleshow/96675981.cms|title=Delhi horror: Men removed woman’s body from car, drove away}}</ref>

==Victim==
{{Infobox person
| name = Anjali Singh
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|2002|5|10}}
| birth_place = [[Delhi, India]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2023|1|1|2002|5|10}}
| death_place =
| death_cause =
| resting_place_coordinates =
| other_names =
| known_for =
| education =
| employer =
| occupation = [[Groomsman|wedding usher]]
| parents =
}}

Anjali Singh had five siblings (two married sisters and three siblings - a brother and two sisters - studying in classes IV, VII and IX).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/sole-breadwinner-woman-stepped-in-after-father-passed-away-8-years-ago/articleshow/96693185.cms|title=Delhi car accident: She was family's sole breadwinner, her father passed away 8 years ago}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/i-wish-i-could-hug-didi-one-last-time/article66331562.ece|title=‘Every New Year, didi used to take us out’}}</ref> She was very active on social media and Instagram Reels.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/delhi-kanjhawala-case-anjali-singh-story-ambitious-sole-breadwinner-8357403/|title=Anjali’s story: Ambitious, family’s sole breadwinner}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/who-was-anjali-singh-the-20-year-old-who-loved-dancing-on-punjabi-songs-died-in-the-horrific-delhi-accident-11917472.html|title=Who was Anjali Singh: The 20-year-old who loved dancing on Punjabi songs; sex assault ruled out in autopsy}}</ref> Anjali used to work as an [[Groomsman|usher]] for an event management company at weddings for daily remuneration.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/people/delhi-car-horror-victim-anjali-singh-supported-family-of-6-mother-is-kidney-patient-3660671|title=Delhi Car Horror Victim Worked As Wedding Usher, Bought Scooty Last Year}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/woman-dragged-by-car-for-4-km-worked-at-event-management-company-was-returning-home-from-work-8355621/|title=Woman dragged by car for 4 km worked at event management company, was returning home from work}}</ref> Her father Satvir passed away 8 years ago. Her mother Rekha is a kidney patient and lost her job as a domestic helper in a private school during the lockdown.<ref name="newyear"/> Her mother lives in Karan Vihar in north-west Delhi. Anjali had studied till class VIII and then started working as support staff at events.

==Investigation==
A medical board of doctors at the [[Maulana Azad Medical College]] (MAMC) conducted Anjali's autopsy and reported that there were a total of 40 injuries.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/40-injuries-tell-the-story-of-anjalis-horror-police-rule-out-sexual-assault-8359715/lite/|title=40 injuries tell the story of Anjali’s horror, police rule out sexual assault}}</ref> The autopsy report mentioned Brain Matter Missing, Skull Open and Spine Broken.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/delhi-horror-brain-matter-missing-skull-open-spine-broken-40-injuries-says-anjalis-autopsy-report-6752605.html|title=Delhi Horror: Brain Matter Missing, Skull Open, Spine Broken, 40 Injuries, Says Anjali's Autopsy Report}}</ref> Her autopsy has ruled out the possibility of a sex assault.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/delhi-hit-and-run-case-police-trace-victims-companion/article66334553.ece|title=Delhi hit-and-run case: Police trace victim’s companion}}</ref> Delhi Police arrested the five accused within 3 hours of the body being found, with the help of two [[Automatic number-plate recognition]] (ANPR) cameras that captured the Baleno with the registration DL8CAY6414.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/delhi-hit-and-run-case-how-cops-joined-the-dots-tracked-accused-in-3-hours/articleshow/96721647.cms|title=Delhi hit and run case: How cops joined the dots, tracked accused in 3 hours}}</ref> The five accused men arrested are Deepak Khanna (26), Amit Khanna (25), Krishan (27), Mithun (26) and Manoj Mittal (27).<ref name="inebriated"/> They were intoxicated at the time of the incident. Of the five, Manoj Mittal is affiliated to the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) and is co-convener of the Mongolpuri ward.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/delhi-sultanpuri-kanjhawala-case-bjp-functionary-acccused-aap-8356790/|title=In Delhi hit-and-run, one of the accused is a BJP man, his poster was outside police station}}</ref> Deepak is a Gramin Sewa auto driver, Amit works with SBI Cards in Uttam Nagar, Krishan works at the [[Instituto Cervantes|Spanish Culture Centre]] in [[Connaught Place, New Delhi|Connaught Place]], Mithun is a hairdresser at Naraina, while Manoj Mittal is a ration dealer in Sultanpuri.<ref name="inebriated"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/men-who-dragged-womans-body-13-km-had-borrowed-car-hours-earlier-police-3658096|title=Men Who Dragged Woman's Body 13 km Had Borrowed Car Hours Earlier: Police}}</ref>

CCTV footage has emerged, which shows the girl being dragged under a Maruti Suzuki Baleno. The video is from January 1, 2023 at 2:13 AM shortly after the accident. According to an eye-witness, Deepak Dahiya, who runs a [[confectionary]] shop at the Kanjhawala Road in Ladpur village, the car took a U-turn after hitting the scooty.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/delhi-news/kanjhawala-new-cctv-confirms-witness-account-car-makes-u-turn-drags-delhi-woman-3656187|title=New CCTV Footage Establishes The Full Horror Of Delhi Woman Dragged By Car}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.abplive.com/delhi-ncr/dragged-woman-s-body-for-one-and-a-half-hours-eyewitness-narrates-horrific-details-of-sultanpuri-incident-1573146|title=Dragged Woman's Body For One And A Half Hours: Eyewitness Narrates Horrific Details Of Sultanpuri Incident}}</ref> Deepak chased the car with his motorcycle and was in contact with the police.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/kanjhawala-accident-case-eyewitness-spoke-to-police-1820-times-but-police-ignored-me|title=Kanjhawala Case: Witness ‘Spoke to Delhi Police 18-20 Times But Was Ignored'}}</ref> Anjali's friend Nidhi gave statement that the accused kept on driving the car deliberately while Anjali was screaming.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/cctv-footage-shows-anjali-s-friend-nidhi-entering-home-at-230am-101672819931405.html|title=Delhi horror: CCTV footage shows Anjali's friend Nidhi entering home at 2.30am}}</ref> Nidhi also said that Anjali was drunk on that day and Anjali insisted on driving the scooty.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/delhi-horror-can-version-of-anjalis-friend-nidhi-be-trusted-3-points-that-show-loopholes-in-her-story-6757375.html|title=Anjali Death Case: Is Friend Nidhi’s Version Reliable? 3 Claims That Point Out Loopholes in Her Story}}</ref>

==Public protests and reactions==
On 3 January 2023, a delegation of 12 [[Aam Aadmi Party]] legislators- led by Greater Kailash MLA [[Saurabh Bhardwaj]] along with Kalkaji MLA [[Atishi]], met Delhi Police commissioner Sanjay Arora and submitted a memorandum with five demands.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/sultanpuri-accident-12-aap-mlas-meet-top-cop-demand-outer-district-s-dcp-be-removed-101672772961668.html|title=Sultanpuri accident: 12 AAP MLAs meet top cop, demand outer district’s DCP be removed}}</ref> The demands included the removal of deputy commissioner of police (outer) Harendra K Singh. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh to the victim's family.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/she-was-drunk-insisted-on-driving-sultanpuri-victims-friend-who-fled-after-accident-tells-cops/articleshow/96726651.cms|title=She was drunk, insisted on driving: Sultanpuri victim's friend, who fled after accident, tells cops}}</ref> Former IPS officer [[Kiran Bedi]] said the current police response system in Delhi has collapsed and called for a need for the revival of the earlier police response system through police control room vans.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/delhi-kanjhawala-case-police-response-system-collapsed-kiran-bedi-on-delhi-hit-and-run-case-3661772|title="Police Response System Collapsed": Kiran Bedi On Delhi Hit-And-Run Case}}</ref> [[Delhi Commission for Women]] chairperson [[Swati Maliwal]] cautioned against “victim-shaming” of Anjali and said that her friend's account should be verified.<ref name="shaming"/>

==See also==
* [[2012 Delhi gang rape and murder]]
* [[1999 Delhi hit-and-run case]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:2023 crimes in India|Hit-and-run case]]
[[Category:Crime in Delhi]]
[[Category:Car crime]]

2023 Delhi hit-and-run case - Revision history

BellaCH at 15:17, 4 January 2023