VADODARA: A 23-year-old law student, Rakshit Chaurasia, allegedly in a drunken state, rammed his car into three vehicles, injuring eight people and killing one woman in the Karelibaug area late Wednesday night.
“We have arrested Chaurasia. His blood samples have been collected to ascertain if he was under the influence of alcohol,” said Leena Patil, additional police commissioner, Vadodara.
According to the police, Chaurasia was driving the car while his friend, Meet Chauhan, the car owner, was in the passenger seat.
Near Amrapali Complex, Chaurasia first hit a woman on a two-wheeler before knocking down two other bikers. The impact was so severe that the car’s airbags deployed. When the vehicle finally came to a halt, Chauhan stepped out and walked away, repeatedly saying, “I didn’t do anything. He was driving the car,” while pointing at Chaurasia.
Chaurasia, a fourth-year law student at M S University, then stepped out of the car and began shouting “another round,” “uncle,” and “Om Namah Shivay” at the top of his voice.
Passersby chased him down, preventing his escape, and some angry locals thrashed him before the police arrived.
CCTV footage captured the entire incident. The injured, including a child, have been hospitalized. Senior police officials confirmed that Chaurasia has been booked for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, and Chauhan’s blood samples have also been taken. If found intoxicated, he will be booked under the Prohibition Act.
“The deceased woman has been identified as Hemali Patel. Her husband, Purav Patel, who was riding with her, is in critical condition,” said Panna Momaya, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP).
Police suspect that Chaurasia’s shouts of ‘another round’ indicated his intention to continue reckless driving and harm more people. Chaurasia, originally from Uttar Pradesh, resides in a rented accommodation in Nizampura, Vadodara.
Chaurasia told the media persons that he wasn’t intoxicated while driving. He claimed that the car hit a two-wheeler following which the air bag opened and hence he couldn’t see what happened.
