Archive · 12 Nov 2025
Supreme Court Orders Ahmedabad Court to Frame Charges in ISKCON Flyover Accident Case Within 3 Weeks
Imagine a big accident happened a while ago where a car hit several people on a bridge, and sadly, nine people died.
The police said the driver, a young man named Tathya Patel, did something very wrong.
He is in court, but his lawyers have asked a higher court if the charges against him are too serious and if they should be changed to something less serious.
While this is being decided, the Supreme Court, which is the highest court, told the local court where the trial is happening to get ready for the trial quickly.
They said the local court must decide what the official charges are within three weeks.
The Supreme Court also said that if the higher court later decides to change the charges, the local court can change them too.
This is to make sure the case moves forward without completely waiting for the other court's decision.
The Supreme Court ordered an Ahmedabad trial court to frame charges in the July 2023 ISKCON flyover accident case within three weeks.
The fatal accident resulted in the deaths of nine people.
Key accused Tathya Patel has a discharge petition pending before the Gujarat High Court, questioning the severity of charges.
The Supreme Court stated that the framing of charges is subject to the High Court's decision on the discharge petition.
The trial court is directed to proceed with framing charges and examining eyewitnesses irrespective of the pending High Court proceedings.
- Who
- The Supreme Court, a trial court in Ahmedabad, and key accused Tathya Patel
- What
- The Supreme Court directed a trial court to frame charges within three weeks in a fatal accident case, noting that the outcome of a discharge petition pending before the Gujarat High Court will apply to the trial.
- When
- The Supreme Court issued its order on November 3; charges must be framed within three weeks of the order's receipt. The incident occurred in July 2023.
- Where
- The trial court is in Ahmedabad; the accident occurred at the ISKCON flyover in Vadodara.
- Why
- To expedite the legal process in the 2023 ISKCON flyover accident case where nine people died, while acknowledging the pending discharge petition that could affect the charges.
Key Accused's Stance (Tathya Patel)
Supreme Court's Direction
Discharge Petition and Maintainability of Charges
Key Accused's Stance (Tathya Patel)
Tathya Patel's legal team argues that the case should be tried under IPC Section 304-A (causing death by rash or negligent act) instead of Section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), and has filed a discharge petition in the Gujarat High Court based on this contention.
Supreme Court's Direction
The Supreme Court has directed the trial court to frame charges within three weeks, regardless of the pending discharge petition in the High Court. The framing of charges will be subject to the outcome of the High Court's decision, and charges may be revised if necessary.
Proceeding with Trial Amidst Pending Petitions
Key Accused's Stance (Tathya Patel)
The pendency of a discharge petition before the Gujarat High Court was delaying the framing of charges by the trial court.
Supreme Court's Direction
The Supreme Court has ordered the trial court to proceed with framing charges and examining eyewitnesses, explicitly stating that this should happen 'notwithstanding the pendency of the criminal revision proceedings before the High Court'.
- Incident Date
- July 2023
- Incident Location
- ISKCON flyover, Vadodara
- Fatalities
- Nine
- Key Accused
- Tathya Patel
- Supreme Court Order Date
- November 3
- Charge Framing Deadline
- Within three weeks of receiving the order
- Pending Gujarat High Court Case
- Discharge petition by Tathya Patel