The injured included another child, the dead girl's six-year-old brother, who sustained fractures in both legs and was receiving treatment in the Intensive Care Unit at Jaipur’s SMS hospital. The father of the children, who has filed a First Information Report against Malini’s driver Mahesh Thakur, recounted that he could not spot Malini’s speeding car before it came in and crashed into their Alto. “There was a car ahead of my car which also passed through," he was quoted as saying by NDTV. "And suddenly, I don't know from where this car came in and rammed us. After that I don't know what happened."
Meanwhile a senior police official reportedly confirmed that Malini’s car was speeding and that it drove over the divider. But, he added, that the driver of the Alto may not have been alert on the road while entering the section of highway where the incident occurred.
Even as the Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje tweeted that efforts were on to provide immediate relief and medical care for the victims, social media brewed up a storm claiming that actress’ injuries were being given more importance over the four-year-old girl who died on the spot.
Hema Malini is trending at no 1 on twitter... No mention of a Girl child killed... and then we trend #BetiBachaao.. :(
— Gustaakh (@dandiwakh) July 2, 2015
A young girl died yesterday. Why are VIPs like Hema Malini in a hurry to reach somehere?Her car was speeding.
— anuradha raman (@raman_anuradha) July 3, 2015
Media covers Hema Malini's broken nose more prominently than the dead child. The same media protests VIP privileges to ministers. Hypocrites
— The Bad Doctor (@doctoratlarge) July 3, 2015
Anywhere in the world, if a car rear ends another at speed & kills, the driver is automatically a suspect & arrested. Arrest #HemaMalini too
— Suryanarayan Ganesh (@gsurya) July 3, 2015
Just wondering have @narendramodi or @VasundharaBJP expressed condolences for child who was killed by hema malini car? Compensation?
— Raghav Chopra (@AarSee) July 3, 2015
Sorry for the child, Hema's injury is minor. Focus should be on the other family,media should focus on justice to victim .#HemaMalini
— QueenBee ♕ (@vaidehisachin) July 3, 2015
Hema Malini is the new Salman Khan
— Ra Ch Na (@raggedtag) July 3, 2015
Not only that, many were of the opinion that the politician should not have left the injured in the Alto to be taken to SMS hospital in Dausa while she, her co-passenger and the driver of the Mercedes were rescued and rushed to the Fortis hospital in Jaipur by a doctor who happened to be passing by.
Shame on #HemaMalini for leaving the child and the family in alto at the spot
— WithRG (@CongressFans) July 3, 2015
Media covers Hema Malini's broken nose more prominently than the dead child. The same media protests VIP privileges to ministers. Hypocrites
— The Bad Doctor (@doctoratlarge) July 3, 2015
Sorry for the child, Hema's injury is minor. Focus should be on the other family,media should focus on justice to victim .#HemaMalini
— QueenBee ♕ (@vaidehisachin) July 3, 2015
Some others also pointed to the difference in medical attention the two parties received as those from the Alto car were rushed to a government hospital in Jaipur.
They sent HemaMalini to Fortis. Rest of the injured to govt hosp.No pretense of equal emergency med response. Yay us! pic.twitter.com/2Rt80skpzA
— Vidya (@VidyaKrishnan) July 3, 2015
Even as an FIR was registered against Hema Malini’s driver, there were some who weren’t convinced and speculation was rife about how the accident may actually have happened.
Why no media mentioning how the accident happened and who was at fault?? covering up #HemaMalini ??
— QueenBee ♕ (@vaidehisachin) July 3, 2015
#HemaMalini car is damaged on RIGHT hand front & rear-ended Alto. Can only happen if overtaking Alto when speeding on divided highway.
— Suryanarayan Ganesh (@gsurya) July 3, 2015
Past controversies involving the actress were raked up, as also her behaviour with people around her.
The media knows either too much kissing or too much kicking. No sense/balance here. Don't crucify #HemaMalini. Not her fault. Don't hype it
— Jayapriya (@winningalways) July 3, 2015
As a MP... Aristocracy of #HemaMalini pic.twitter.com/dqy3yUYknG
— Rajiv Kapoor (@TheWorldCitizen) July 3, 2015
There were also some voices of sanity appealing for calm and appealing for the tragedy not to be turned into a political controversy.
Sorry for the child, Hema's injury is minor. Focus should be on the other family,media should focus on justice to victim .#HemaMalini
— QueenBee ♕ (@vaidehisachin) July 3, 2015
#HemaMalini Idiots don't show your humorous side here and for god sake don't make it political. It's a tragic accident and a kid has died.
— Sonal Chadha (@MissSonalChadha) July 3, 2015