'Nothing abnormal' about 'killer' bus driver: Pune hospital

Pune: Mental condition of Santosh Mane, the bus driver who went on the rampage mowing down eight persons and injuring at least 27 others, was found to be "normal" even as the Yerawada mental hospital authorities have not denied the possibility of psychotic relapse in future.

According to a confidential report filed by the hospital where Mane was admitted to following his maniac driving on busy streets of the city on January 25 "nothing abnormal was found about the 30-year-old driver".

Pune rampage: Nine die, many injured as bus driver goes berserk

The report was today submitted to the court of Judicial Magistrate (First Class) hearing the case.

"We undertook two to three mental status examinations of Santosh Mane in a day. During these tests, we observed his orientation, appearance, thought disorders, perceptual disturbance, memory problems and judgment capacity," Yerawada Regional Mental Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Vilas Bhailume said.

Few members of our staff put Santosh Mane under observation round-the-clock. They monitored his behavior, speech, routine activities and any other abnormalities. Even clinical psychologist conducted few psychological tests on him, he said.

"During his observation period at the mental hospital, we found nothing abnormal with Santosh Mane. However, according to the report by the doctor of Sasoon Hospital, we can not deny possibility of psychiatric illness as Mane had taken medical treatment few years back in Solapur....There is a possibility of relapses in future," Dr Bhailume said.