In Mumbai’s Worli, a tragic incident unfolded this morning involving a speeding BMW and a scooter, resulting in the death of a woman. According to police reports, the BMW was being driven by Mihir Shah, the 24-year-old son of a senior Shiv Sena leader, Rajesh Shah. Police suspect Mihir Shah was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident, pending confirmation from his blood test results. Following the crash, Mihir Shah fled the scene, and his current whereabouts are unknown.
In response to the incident, Rajesh Shah and their driver, Rajendra Singh Bijawat, were arrested later in the day on charges of hindering the police investigation and other related offenses. A case has been registered under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, invoking sections related to culpable homicide not amounting to murder, rash driving, and destruction of evidence. Additionally, provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act have been cited in connection with the incident.
The BMW involved in the accident is registered in Mihir Shah’s name. Police sources indicate that Mihir Shah had consumed alcohol at a bar in Juhu the previous night and subsequently insisted on driving the vehicle himself during the ill-fated journey through Worli. The collision occurred with a scooter carrying Kaveri Nakva and her husband, residents of Worli’s Koliwada area who worked as fish-sellers. Kaveri Nakva tragically lost her life in the incident, while her husband sustained minor injuries.
Authorities revealed that after the crash, Mihir Shah contacted his father, Rajesh Shah, to inform him of the situation, following which his phone has been unreachable. Efforts to locate Mihir Shah involve multiple police teams deployed across the city.
The investigation has also uncovered attempts to tamper with evidence. The BMW’s windshield, adorned with a Shiv Sena sticker, was scratched, seemingly to obscure any association with the political leader. Furthermore, one of the vehicle’s number plates was removed after the accident, although police managed to identify the car through CCTV footage in the area.
Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena Leader Eknath Shinde responded to the incident, labeling it “unfortunate” and assuring that strict legal action will be taken. He emphasized, “Law will take its own course; everyone is equal before the law.” This incident comes in the wake of another recent case involving fatal consequences of drink-driving, underscoring concerns over road safety and adherence to traffic regulations.