Pune's killer driver sent to Yerwada Mental Asylum

Pune, Jan 29: Santosh Mane, the man who rampaged across the city on Wednesday leaving 8 people dead and dozens injured after he hijacked a bus from Swargate has been admitted to a mental hosiptal in Yerwada on Saturday, Jan 28.

Rajendrasinh Mohite, Assistant commissioner of police (crime II) said that Mane was examined by a medical officer from the Sassoon hospital and the police was directed to keep under observation in the mental asylum till Feb 1.

"After receiving the medical certificate, we produced him before the court of judicial magistrate first class and filed a plea for suspending the police custody (granted on Thursday till February 3) so that he could be referred to the mental hospital," he said.

"Medical reports were shown to the court, which then passed an order to move Mane to the mental hospital. But we have reserved our right to seek his custody whenever required. He will be kept under police protection," Mohite said. "Mane has not given us the details of the mayhem he caused. We have strong circumstantial evidence against him as well as eyewitnesses."

Vilas Bhailume, superintendent of the Mental hospital said that a report submitted by the Sassoon hospital stated that Mane needed to be admitted for evaluation and observation.

"Mane's behaviour will be observed and a psychiatrist will conduct his mental status examination. We can arrive at a conclusion after examining his medical reports till February 1. We will then submit the report to the court," he said.

Dilip Burte, Solapur based psychiatrist had said that he had treated Mane for "psychosis" about 2 years ago and said that he showed the "symptoms of schizophrenia and mania".

Mane after hijacking a bus from Swargate bus depot, went on a killing spree for about an hour, damaging atleast 37 vehicles that came on his way.

OneIndia News