Mumbai: In a tragic hit-and-run incident early Sunday, a 24-year-old man speeding in his luxury car rammed into a scooter at Worli, injuring the driver and dragging the woman pillion rider for nearly 1.5 kilometres, resulting in her death. This incident eerily mirrors the Pune Porsche incident in May.
The accused, Mihir Shah, is currently absconding. Police have detained his father, Rajesh Shah, and the family driver, Rajrishi Bidawat, who was in the car at the time of the accident.
Preliminary inquiries reveal that Bidawat was in the front passenger seat when the collision occurred. Mihir’s father, Rajesh Shah, a deputy leader in the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) and owner of a construction business, and Mihir, who assists in the family business, were involved in the incident.
Around 5:30 am, Pradeep and Kaveri Nakhwa, fish sellers from Worli village, were returning home on their two-wheeler after purchasing fish from Sassoon Dock, Colaba. The collision caused Kaveri, 45, to fall on the road, with her saree getting caught in the car’s front wheel, while Pradeep, 50, landed on the car’s bonnet. Despite Pradeep’s pleas, Mihir continued driving, dragging Kaveri for a considerable distance.
Pradeep recounted that after jumping off the car’s bonnet, he attempted to chase it but was hindered by his injured leg. He then took a taxi and followed the car for 1.5 kilometres. Unable to find his wife, he returned to the Worli police station. Kaveri’s body was eventually found near Worli Sea Face.
Eyewitness Account
An eyewitness who discovered Kaveri’s body alerted the police. At the Worli police station, a distraught Pradeep described the horrifying sequence of events.
“My wife and I were going home, I was driving at 30 km/h when suddenly, a car hit us from behind. She was dragged as far as the Sea Link, by which time there was no clothing left on her body. I asked him to stop, but he did not. Had he stopped the car, my wife would have been saved,” he lamented.
Pradeep identified Mihir Shah as the driver and stated that there was another person seated next to him. The abandoned BMW was later found near Kalanagar, Bandra.
Police Investigation
According to police reports, the occupants of the car separated after the accident, with the driver heading to Borivli to inform Mihir’s father. Mihir’s whereabouts remain unknown. Police have questioned Mihir’s girlfriend, as he reportedly went to her house before absconding.
Police stated that Mihir and Bidawat had set off from Borivli around 11:30 pm for a long drive, visiting a bar on Juhu Tara Road and accumulating a tab of nearly Rs 18,000. Mihir took the wheel as they headed back towards Worli Sea Link, resulting in the fatal accident.
Official Statement
DCP Zone 3 Krishnakant Upadhyay confirmed, “We had received information that Kaveri Nakhwa had met with an accident and she was taken to Nair Hospital where doctors declared her brought dead. We recorded Pradeep Nakhwa’s statement and registered an FIR against Mihir Shah and Rajrishi, the driver. We have detained Rajrishi and Mihir Shah’s father Rajesh Shah in this matter.”
Legal Proceedings
Mihir Shah and Rajrishi Bidawat have been booked under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, including:
Section 105: Culpable Homicide not amounting to murder
Section 281: Rash Driving
Section 125: Act endangering human life
Section 238: Causing disappearance of evidence
Section 324: Mischief causing damage
An anonymous call to the police around 5:50 am led to the swift recovery of Kaveri’s body, which was then taken to Nair Hospital. Mihir reportedly switched off his phone upon reaching Kalanagar and has been unreachable since.
Tragic death
HORRIBLE