Chinese duo detained over drunken hit-and-run incident in Meerut granted bail

Two Chinese nationals detained for hitting nearly six vehicles with their SUV and injuring eight people were granted bail by a court here on Tuesday, even as their passports were seized by the police.

The court directed the police to seize the passports of the accused and file a charge sheet in the case as soon as possible, officials said, adding that a report of the incident was sent to the Chinese Embassy.

The incident took place on Sunday night when the accused, Guoqing Xia and Wenxin Zu, rammed their car into several other vehicles while driving under the influence of alcohol here.

The accused were produced before the court of the additional judicial magistrate on Tuesday which granted them bail.

The duo work for a Chinese firm that deals in furniture and meat business. They have been visitng India for 15 years on business visa, police said.

They used to visit India on temporary visa on two-three months. Their visa will expire on September 26, officials added.

They have been staying in rented flats in Mangal Pandey Nagar and Shastri Nagar, and the owners whose premises they had rented have been sent notices as well, the they said.

Superintendent of Police Ranvijay Singh said the two Chinese nationals were in the city to inspect a meat plant.

On Sunday, eight people, including businessman Rajib Aggarwal, his wife and his daughter, were injured as the duo hit several vehicles with an SUV on the busy Garh road here.

Police chased the vehicle down near the Rangoli Mandap area. The Chinese nationals were drunk and were accompanied by their guide, Ashish, a resident of the Mangal Pandey Nagar area, during the incident, police said.