Shiv Sena leader arrested for ‘helping’ son in BMW hit-and-run case

The vehicle is owned by Rajesh Shah, a Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) leader from Palghar district. His son, Mihir, 24, was driving the vehicle, while their driver, Rajrishi Bidawat, was with him, police said. A case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder has been registered against Mihir.

While Mihir is absconding, his father and driver have been arrested, police said. Police did not specify the charges against the duo, but sources said they have been arrested for allegedly helping Mihir after the accident.

A senior police officer confirmed to The Indian Express that a Look Out Circular has been issued against Mihir on suspicion that he may flee the country. Six police teams have been formed to trace him, said sources.

According to police, the accident took place at 5.25 am, on Dr Annie Besant Road in Worli area. When the vehicle hit the couple’s scooter from behind, they were flung in the air and landed on the bonnet of the vehicle, police said. The man quickly jumped off, but the woman couldn’t. The accused continued to drive, dragging Kaveri on the bonnet for around two kilometres before flinging her on the road, ahead of the Bandra Worli Sea Link, police sources said.

The accused then took the Sea Link to reach Bandra. At Kalanagar area, the accused dropped the driver, abandoned the car and fled, said sources.

Meanwhile, some local residents rushed the woman to hospital, where she was declared dead. Her husband sustained injuries on his leg. Based on a complaint filed by him, Worli Police have registered a case against Mihir and the driver.

“If the car driver had shown some humanity and stopped, my wife would have been alive today,” said Pradeep Nakhwa.

The accused have been booked under BNS Sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 281 (rash driving), 125B (causing grievous hurt), 238 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender), and 324-4 (committing mischief and thereby causing loss or damage to the amount of Rs 20,000 and more but less than Rs 1 lakh), and Sections 184 (driving dangerously), 134A (not taking the injured to hospital), 134B (not informing the police) and 187 (punishment for offences related to accident) of the Motor Vehicle Act.

Amid allegations that Mihir was partying at a bar in Juhu where he consumed alcohol, and left at 1.28 am, police have collected CCTV footage from the bar. They have also obtained footage from multiple CCTV cameras capturing the accident, which will be part of the evidence.

Police sources said Mihir had gone to South Mumbai on a joyride with the driver. At Marine Drive, he allegedly asked the driver to let him take the wheel, and was heading back home, said sources.

Rajesh Shah, a supplier of construction material, was earlier district head of the undivided Shiv Sena. He is currently the Shinde Sena’s deputy leader of Palghar district.

Speaking to reporters, 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.”

“The driver has fled… The young man was driving the vehicle. Police should take strict action against him. I have met the husband of the deceased woman. I have been raising the issue that motorists are driving rashly in Mumbai hence, there should be visible policing on the roads. You cannot leave everything to CCTV cameras,” said Shiv Sena UBT leader Aditya Thackeray. “Everything (about the accident) has been captured on CCTV cameras. The culprits should get harsh punishment. There should not be any politics over the incident.”

In a similar incident, two persons, both techies, were killed when their two-wheeler was hit by a Porsche, allegedly driven by a 17-year-old, in Pune on May 19.