Team News Riveting
Mumbai, July 7
The Mumbai police have arrested Shiv Sena leader Rajesh Shah in connection with the BMW hit-and-run case that killed a scooty-borne woman.
The police claimed that the car was driven by Mihir Shah, 24-year-old son of the senior leader associated with Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. After preliminary investigation, the police suspect that Mihir Shah, who is on the run, was drunk at the time of the incident. His blood test report is awaited.
Rajesh Shah is deputy leader of the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra’s Palghar district. The politician and his driver, Rajendra Singh Bijawat, were arrested in the evening for not cooperating with the police. They will be produced in court tomorrow.
A case has been registered under the new criminal code Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita under 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 vehicle is registered in Mihir Shah’s name. At the time of the accident, police said, the Sena leader’s son and their driver were in the luxury car. According to police sources, Mihir Shah drank at a bar in Juhu last night. On his way home, he asked the driver to take him for a long drive. The car came to Worli and then Mihir insisted that he would drive. Soon after he took the wheel and the speeding BMW hit a scooter.
Police said Kaveri Nakva and her husband Pradik Nakva, residents of Worli’s Koliwada area, were on the ill-fated scooty. The fish-seller couple went to Sassoon Dock daily to fetch fish. They were on their way back, when the BMW crashed into their two-wheeler. The two were thrown into the air and crashed on the bonnet of the SUV. As the car kept speeding, Kaveri Nakva was run over. The car fled the spot and the woman was taken to a hospital, where she was declared dead. Her husband, Pradik, suffered minor injuries.
Police sources said Mihir called his father and told him about the crash. His phone has been off since then. The Mumbai police have constituted four teams to nab Mihir.
Maharashtra Chief Minister and Sena Leader Eknath Shinde has termed the incident “unfortunate” and assured action. “Law will take its own course, everyone is equal before law. I have spoken to the police and strict action will be taken,” he said.
