HC stays trial against Barkot municipal chief in collision case

Dehradun: Uttarakhand high court has temporarily stayed trial proceedings against Vinod Dobhal, chairman of the Barkot municipal council in Uttarkashi, in connection with an FIR registered against him in the district.A single-judge bench of Justice Alok Mahra passed the interim order after hearing arguments from the petitioners. The court issued notice to the complainant, Praveen Rawat, directing him to file a response at the earliest and posted the matter for hearing after receipt of the service report.The case stems from an FIR lodged by BJP functionary Praveen Rawat, who alleged that Dobhal harboured a grudge against him for reporting illegal mining activities along a riverbank to the police. Rawat claimed that while he was travelling under the escort of police personnel and a naib tehsildar, Dobhal and others deliberately rammed their Scorpio SUV into his Alto car and fled the spot.Appearing for the petitioners, counsel disputed the allegations, calling them “false and fabricated”. The defence argued that the inspection report of the Scorpio allegedly involved in the incident showed no signs of damage or evidence of a collision, making the complainant’s version doubtful.Counsel further argued that it was implausible for the accused to flee after causing an accident in the presence of police personnel and a naib tehsildar without being apprehended. The defence also pointed to the absence of independent witnesses and alleged that the case was driven by political vendetta.After considering the submissions, Justice Mahra stayed the sessions trial pending before the Uttarkashi court until the next date of hearing.