High Profile Hit-And-Run Cases That Shocked The Nation

A tragic hit-and-run case took place in Mumbai today, where a BMW dashed into a two-wheeler and killed a woman, while grievously injuring her husband. As per reports, the person behind the wheels is said to be Mihir Shah, son of a prominent Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) leader.

Although hit-and-run cases are not new in India, it does draw attention towards the lackadaisical attitude of the authorities on plugging such cases and preventing them from happening in future.

Photo Credit: PTI

In this article, we'll discuss about the past high profile hit-and-run cases that created massive public outrage in India.

1. Delhi Hit-and-Run Case - 1999

On January 10, 1999, a speeding BMW E38 caused the deaths of six people, including three police officers in Lodhi Colony, Delhi. Later, the vehicle was found parked at 50 Golf Links, house of one Rajeev Gupta.

Upon investigating, cops found out that Sanjeev Nanda, grandson of the then-Indian Navy Chief and son of arms dealer Suresh Nanda was driving the car. His partners in crime were Siddhartha Gupta (Rajeev Gupta's son) and Manik Kapoor.

2. Janhavi Gadkar's Hit-and-Run Case - 2015

Janhavi Gadkar, a prominent Mumbai-based lawyer, drove under the influence of alcohol and crashed into a taxi, resulting in two deaths. The case highlighted the dangers of drunk driving and the need for stricter regulations.

3. Salman Khan's Hit-and-Run Case - 2002; (2015 Conviction)

Probably, the most high profile and talked about hit-and run case in India. Bollywood actor Salman Khan ran over people sleeping on a pavement, causing one death and several injuries. He was convicted in 2015 under the new hit-and-run law after a prolonged legal battle. The case was heavily debated and dominated news headlines for years. It still features in the media every now and then.

4. Siddharth Sharma's Hit-and-Run Case - 2016

A Mercedes hit and killed Siddharth Sharma. A juvenile, just 4 days short of turning 18, with a history of reckless driving was behind the wheels at the time of mishap.

The Supreme Court ruled the accused would be treated as a juvenile, and the case was dealt as culpable homicide. Consequently, this created massive outrage among public.

5. Pune Porsche crash - 2024

On May 19, 2024, a 17-year-old in Pune was involved in a collision with a Porsche Taycan, resulting in the deaths of two motorbike riders, Anish Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta, both IT professionals from Madhya Pradesh. The mishap took place in the upmarket Kalyani Nagar area of the city.

Investigation revealed that the vehicle was an unregistered car and the teen had consumed alcohol before the accident.

The teen's father, Vishal Agarwal, brought Maharashtra MLA Sunil Tingre to the police station where the latter was being questioned by the cops. surprisingly, the police delayed testing the teenager's blood alcohol content and gave him preferential treatment, as per reports.

The Juvenile Justice Board granted the 17-year-old bail within hours, causing nationwide controversy over the perceived derailment of justice.

The public outrage led to Vishal Agarwal being taken into custody and questioned about a potential blood sample swap. His 77-year-old father allegedly abducted the driver present at the accident and coerced him into taking the blame.

Investigations revealed that teen's blood sample was swapped with his mother's, implicating both parents and hospital staff in a conspiracy.

As of now, the teenager's custody has been handed over to his kin.