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A damaged BMW car that was involved in an accident, parked on the premises of Worli police station, in Mumbai, Sunday, July 7, 2024. Added a mugshot of CM Eknath Shinde.
Credit: PTI Photo
Mumbai: In a shocking case of drunken-driving and hit-and-run, a woman died while her husband was injured when a high-end BMW car being driven by the son of a local Shiv Sena leader rammed a two-wheeler in the wee hours of Sunday - snowballing into a political issue in Maharashtra.
In the recent past, similar such incidents have been witnessed in Pune and Nagpur.
The victim, Kaveri Nakhwa (45), is resident of Koliwada in Worli.
Her husband, Pradik Nakhwa (50) is recovering from injuries.
The accident took place around 0530 hrs between Atria Mall and Worli along the Mumbai Coastal Road, when the couple were on way to the Sassoon Dock in Colaba to purchase fish stock for selling it in the local market.
While the man managed to jump after being hit, his wife was dragged for over 100 mts.
The suspect Mihir Shah, aged around 24, is on a run.
Mihir Shah is the son of Rajesh Shah, who is the Palghar unit deputy leader of Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde, who heads the BJP-led Maha Yuti government.
The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi has slammed the government and called for immediate arrest of the accused.
The Worli police have detained Rajesh Shah and his driver Rajendra Singh Bidawat is being questioned.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Krishnakant Upadhyay said that two persons have been detained and investigations were in progress.
The BMW has been impounded by police.
Forensic examination of the car is being carried out.
According to police sources, Mihir Shah was at a bar with some friends in Juhu and then left for home. On the way, he insisted that he would drive and took the wheels from the driver.
The Worli police station is securing the CCTV footage of the bar.
The Worli police station has registered a case under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Motor Vehicles Act.
The incident is expected to have its echo on Monday during the monsoon session of Maharashtra legislature.
Shinde assured a thorough probe into the incident. “What has happened is unfortunate, very sad,” he said, adding: "Law will take its own course, everyone is equal before law. I have spoken to the police and strict action will be taken”.
Former minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray, who is an MLA from Worli, demanded immediate action against the accused.
“I visited the Worli police station and met with senior police officers investigating the hit and run case that occurred in Worli today. I will not go into the political leanings of 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,” said Aaditya, the son of former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Sunil Shinde and Aaditya also met Pradik Nakhwa, the husband of the victim and promised him that they will do everything to bring the accused to justice.
Speaking to media persons, Pradik Nakhwa broke down. “It happened in front of me…the car rammed us. I saw him inside the car, driving…I asked him to stop, however, he fled the scene.”
Mumbai Congress president Prof Varsha Gaikwad, who is an MP, said: “We lost an innocent life. It is gut-wrenching. We do not wish to politicise the issue, but the government must ensure prompt justice in the case. The culprit must be arrested immediately. Also, all those who helped him break rules should be booked. In the last couple of months, Maharashtra has seen three such incidents. There has also been a worrying rise in cases of rash driving, over speeding and road rage.