Mumbai authorities have disclosed that the driver involved in a deadly BEST bus accident in Bhandup, which claimed four lives and left 14 injured, had previously faced disciplinary action for a minor incident.
Santosh Sawant, 52, was arrested following the Monday night crash on Route 606. According to BEST officials, his service record includes no serious or fatal accidents but notes a past minor collision that led to censure, caution, and a suspension. Additionally, he was involved in two other minor incidents deemed “not blameworthy,” meaning he was not held responsible.
“He has been censured, cautioned and suspended once in the past,” a BEST official stated. “However, there has not been any incident due to which his grade was reduced. In this case, his suspension is pending inquiry.”
Sawant, who joined BEST in January 2011, had undergone training on electric buses. The bus involved was operated under a wet-lease agreement with Olectra GreenTech, deployed on the route since November 14 after BEST discontinued its own midi buses there from November 13.
In response to a similar accident in Kurla on December 9, 2024, BEST enhanced driver training at its Dindoshi Training Centre. This year, the undertaking provided refresher courses to 4,529 drivers, including 2,121 BEST employees and 2,408 from wet-lease operators. Among wet-lease drivers, 580 received electric bus refreshers, 818 got induction training on e-buses, and 1,052 new drivers were inducted and trained. Eleven BEST staff drivers were also reinstated after training.
Initial assessments indicate the bus was in good physical and technical condition, as it was driven to the police station. BEST believes the incident resulted from human error by Sawant, pending full investigation and report. The Regional Transport Office is conducting a separate probe.
Sawant was produced in court on Tuesday and remanded in police custody until January 3.
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