Mumbai Woman Killed in BMW Crash; Sena Leader’s Son Arrested

A tragic incident occurred in Mumbai’s Worli area this morning when a speeding BMW crashed into a scooter, resulting in the death of a woman. The driver of the luxury car, Mihir Shah, 24, is the son of Rajesh Shah, a senior leader of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena in Maharashtra’s Palghar district. According to police sources, Mihir was driving the car at the time of the accident, which is believed to have been caused by his reckless behavior.

Mihir’s blood test report is pending, but police suspect that he was drunk at the time of the incident. The accused is on the run, and four police teams are working to track him down. His father, Rajesh Shah, and the driver, Rajendra Singh Bijawat, were arrested in the evening for not cooperating with the police and will be produced in court tomorrow.

The BMW, registered in Mihir’s name, was involved in the accident, which occurred when the Sena leader’s son and his driver were in the vehicle. Police sources revealed that Mihir had spent the previous night at a bar in Juhu and had asked his driver to take him for a long drive. On their way back, Mihir insisted on driving the car, which led to the fatal crash.

Kaveri Nakva, a 30-year-old fish-seller, and her husband Pradik, 35, were on their scooter, returning from Sassoon Dock, where they worked, when the BMW crashed into them. The couple was thrown into the air and crashed onto the bonnet of the SUV. Kaveri was run over by the car as it sped away from the scene, and she was declared dead at the hospital. Pradik suffered minor injuries.

Mihir had called his father after the accident, but his phone has been off since then. The police investigation has also revealed attempts to destroy evidence, including a scratched Shiv Sena sticker on the car’s windshield and a removed number plate. However, police were able to identify the vehicle using CCTV footage.

Maharashtra Chief Minister and Sena Leader Eknath Shinde has termed the incident “unfortunate” and assured that strict action will be taken. “Law will take its own course, everyone is equal before the law,” he said. This incident comes months after a similar case of drink-driving in Pune, where two 24-year-old engineers were killed. In that case, the minor accused was speeding a Porsche car after a night of drinking, and his father, a prominent realtor, his mother, and grandfather were arrested for allegedly attempting to destroy evidence.

The police have registered a case under the new criminal code Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, sections relating to culpable homicide not amounting to murder, rash driving, and destruction of evidence, among others. Provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act have also been invoked. The incident is a stark reminder of the dangers of drink-driving and the importance of strict enforcement of traffic laws.

Historical Context:

• The Shiv Sena is a right-wing political party in India, founded in 1966 by Bal Thackeray. It has been a significant player in Maharashtra politics, particularly in the 1990s and early 2000s.
• Eknath Shinde is the current Chief Minister of Maharashtra and a leader of the Shiv Sena. He has been involved in several controversies and power struggles within the party.
• The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) is a new criminal code introduced in India in 2020, which aims to simplify and streamline the criminal justice system. It has been criticized for its potential to undermine the independence of the judiciary.

Summary in Bullet Points:

• A 24-year-old man, Mihir Shah, the son of a Shiv Sena leader, was involved in a fatal car crash in Mumbai’s Worli area, killing a 30-year-old woman, Kaveri Nakva. • Mihir was driving a BMW at the time of the accident, which is believed to have been caused by his reckless behavior, including speeding and possibly being drunk. • Police suspect that Mihir was drunk and are investigating his blood test report, which is pending. • Mihir’s father, Rajesh Shah, and the driver, Rajendra Singh Bijawat, were arrested for not cooperating with the police and will be produced in court tomorrow. • The police investigation revealed attempts to destroy evidence, including a scratched Shiv Sena sticker on the car’s windshield and a removed number plate. • The incident has sparked outrage and concerns about drink-driving and the importance of strict enforcement of traffic laws. • Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has termed the incident “unfortunate” and assured that strict action will be taken. • The police have registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, sections relating to culpable homicide not amounting to murder, rash driving, and destruction of evidence, among others. • The incident is a stark reminder of the dangers of drink-driving and the importance of strict enforcement of traffic laws, following a similar case in Pune earlier this year.