The case built by police against actor Vikram Chatterjee for the death of model Sonika Chauhan in a high-speed car crash with him at the wheel is fit to go to trial on grounds of the accused having knowledge of the perils of driving a vehicle at 105kmph, a court ruled on Tuesday.

While rejecting Vikram’s appeal to dismiss the case, the sixteenth additional sessions judge in Alipore cited the forensic report that mentions how the speed of the actor’s Toyota Corolla Altis dropped only marginally from 105 to 93kmph seconds before the crash.

There was no sign of braking, according to the report.

The judge also cited the Kolkata Police Gazette dated October 5, 2015, which mentions that the speed limit for Rashbehari Avenue is 40kmph at all hours. “The car was flying at a very high speed, violating the restriction on speed,” he said.

Sonika was seated next to Vikram when the car crashed on the night of April 29, 2017. They were apparently in a nightclub before that.

The police’s chargesheet against Vikram includes culpable homicide not amounting to murder, drink driving, rash and negligent driving, mischief and causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others.

The actor’s defence team had argued for the case to be dismissed on grounds of there being no medical evidence of intoxication against Vikram on the night of the crash. The lawyers had also said that speeding on an empty road did not constitute rash and negligent driving.

“The driver definitely had knowledge that such speed (above 100kmph) will endanger the life of the person in the car,” the judge said.

Multiple witnesses whose statements have been recorded in the presence of a magistrate have purportedly said that they saw Vikram having alcohol on the night of the incident.

On December 3, the prosecution will present the draft of charges against the actor, after which the court will evaluate the merit of the case along with the evidence presented by the police.

Conviction for culpable homicide not amounting to murder carries a maximum jail term of 10 years.

Sonika Singh Chauhan File picture