Detectives in Barnet are offering a £20,000 reward for information regarding a fatal collision that occurred one year ago.
Bhagwanji Rughani, an 80-year-old, lost his life when he was struck by a white van in a supermarket car park on September 24, 2022. Mr. Rughani’s family expressed their devastation over the loss and appealed for help.
Crimestoppers, an independent charity, is providing the reward to anyone who provides information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Mr. Rughani’s death, with the condition that the information must be shared with Crimestoppers.
Detective Constable Jonathan Stokes from the Met’s Road and Transport Policing Command leads the investigation – he said: “It is now one-year since this tragic incident and Mr Rughani’s family and friends remain shattered by his death. A reward of £20,000 is available for anyone who can provide information to Crimestoppers that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.
“I would appeal to anyone who knows who was driving that van, or anyone who has information that could progress this investigation to get in contact immediately.”
Alexa Loukas, Crimestoppers London Regional Manager, said: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Mr Rughani, who are still feeling the pain of losing a loved one in such an awful way. Please remember that with our charity, we promise no police, no courts, no witness statements. All you have to do is tell us what you know.
“Crimestoppers, which is completely independent of the police, keeps its promise of 100% anonymity to more than a thousand people who trust us with their crime information every single day.
“Share what you know by calling our UK Contact Centre on freephone 0800 555 111, which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week or use our website’s secure anonymous online form at Crimestoppers-uk.org. No one will ever know you contacted us. We cannot trace your call or track your IP address and we never ask for or record any personal information.”
Police are also releasing footage showing the van involved. It is believed that two white men were in the van that day and the van was on cloned registration plates. At approximately 16:50hrs on 24 September 2022 the van was seen driving around the Tesco car park in the Coppetts Centre in Colney Hatch.
The van came to a sudden stop and then quickly reversed, colliding with Mr Rughani. It then drove from the scene without stopping. Mr Rughani was taken to hospital where he died from his injuries the following day.
Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is asked to call 020 8246 9820 or ‘X’ @MetCC and quote CAD 4826/24Sep22.
To be eligible for the Crimestoppers reward and to stay completely anonymous, please contact the independent charity on 0800 555 111 or via their website.
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