Hours after a woman traveling on a scooter with her husband was dragged to death by a BMW, the vehicle owner Shiv Sena leader Rajesh Shah and his driver were arrested on Sunday.
Shah and his driver, Rajrishi Rajendrasingh Bisawat, were arrested for allegedly assisting the leader’s son, who was reportedly driving the car at the time of the incident on Sunday.
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The incident took place at 5.25 am on Dr Annie Besant Road in the Worli area. The vehicle hit the couple’s scooter from behind, flinging them into the air. The man jumped off, but the woman couldn’t. The accused continued driving, dragging the woman on the bonnet for around two kilometers before flinging her onto the road near the Bandra-Worli Sea Link.
The accused then took the Sea Link to reach Bandra. In the Kalanagar area, the accused dropped the driver, abandoned the car, and fled, The Indian Express reported. Local residents rushed the woman to a hospital, where she was declared dead. Based on his complaint, Worli Police have registered a case against Mihir and the driver.
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The victim, identified as 45-year-old Kaveri Nakhwa from Worli Koliwada, was returning home with her husband, Pradeep Nakhwa, 50, after buying fish from Crawford Market. Pradeep Nakhwa sustained injuries in the incident.
Rajesh Shah, a Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) leader from Palghar district, owns the vehicle. His 24-year-old son Mihir was driving the BMW at the time, accompanied by their driver, Rajrishi Bidawat, according to police reports. A case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder has been registered against Mihir.
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Mihir is currently absconding, while his father and the driver have been arrested. Police have not specified the exact charges against the duo, but sources indicate they were arrested for allegedly aiding Mihir after the accident.
According to an Indian Express report, a Look Out Circular has been issued against the Shiv Sena leader’s son, who is suspected of planning to flee the country. Six police teams have been formed to track him down.
The accused have been booked under Sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 281 (rash driving), 125B (causing grievous hurt), 238 (causing disappearance of evidence of offense or giving false information to screen offender), and 324-4 (committing mischief and causing loss or damage between Rs 20,000 and Rs 1 lakh) of the Indian Penal Code, and Sections 184 (driving dangerously), 134A (not taking the injured to hospital), 134B (not informing the police), and 187 (punishment for offenses related to accidents) of the Motor Vehicle Act.
Allegations have surfaced of Mihir partying at a bar in Juhu, consuming alcohol, and leaving at 1.28 am. Police have collected CCTV footage from the bar. They have also obtained multiple CCTV recordings of the accident, which will be part of the evidence.
Eknath Shinde assures justice
Reacting to the incident, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said, “I have spoken to the police in the morning. Everyone is equal before the law and every incident is the same before the government. Everything will be dealt with legally. Police will not support anyone or try to save anyone. This is a very unfortunate and painful incident.”
In a post on X, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and local MLA Aaditya Thackeray, who represents the Worli assembly constituency, said he would not address Shah’s “political leanings” but hoped “the regime will not provide any political refuge.”
“Visited the Worli Police Station today and met with senior police officers investigating into the hit and run case that occurred in Worli today. I will not go into the political leanings of Mr Shah, the accused of the hit and run, but I hope the police will act swiftly to catch the accused and bring him to justice. Hopefully there will be no political refuge by the regime,” Thackeray said.
