The police stated that Mihir Shah switched cars and was later driving the BMW, with his driver occupying the passenger seat.

Mumbai: Amid a search for the son of a Shiv Sena leader following a fatal BMW crash in Mumbai yesterday, CCTV footage showing the key accused has gone viral.

The video captures Mihir Shah leaving a pub in a Mercedes car with four of his friends. Police reported that Mihir later switched cars and was driving the BMW, with his driver seated in the passenger seat.

The speeding BMW struck a scooter in Worli early Sunday morning, resulting in the death of a woman who was riding pillion with her husband. According to the police, Mihir was allegedly drunk at the time of the crash.

Mihir’s father, Rajesh Shah, a leader of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s party in Palghar, and the BMW’s driver, Rajrishi Bidawat, were arrested last evening for not cooperating with the authorities. The BMW is registered in Rajesh Shah’s name.

Mihir remains at large, with police suspecting that his girlfriend may have assisted in hiding him. She is currently being questioned, and a lookout notice has been issued for Mihir.

The victim, identified as Kaveri Nakhwa, 45, was traveling to Worli Koliwada from Mazagaon Docks with her husband, Pradip, when the accident occurred. The collision threw both riders into the air, causing them to land on the car’s bonnet. While Pradip managed to jump off, Kaveri was dragged approximately 100 meters by the car as it attempted to flee. She was rushed to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

Mihir and his driver fled the scene, abandoning the car at Kala Nagar, Bandra East, before separating and taking different auto rickshaws. The driver, who went to Borivali, was arrested in the evening, while four police teams are actively searching for Mihir.

According to police sources, the accused had been drinking at a bar in Juhu the night before the crash and went for a long drive afterward. The accident occurred soon after Mihir insisted on driving as they reached Worli.

The police have filed a case under the new criminal code, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, rash driving, and destruction of evidence. Provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act have also been invoked.

Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde has assured that action will be taken, stating that everyone is equal before the law.

This incident comes months after a similar hit-and-run case in Pune, involving a Porsche and the minor son of an influential realtor, which resulted in the deaths of two young engineers. In that case, the boy was found to be drunk, and his parents and grandfather were arrested for allegedly attempting to destroy evidence.

Tags: