Two Arrested in Mumbai BMW Case, Chief Minister Assures Justice

Two individuals were detained after a woman riding a scooter with her husband was fatally struck by a BMW car in Mumbai's Worli area early Sunday, according to an official. Kaveri Nakhwa, 45, was travelling with her husband Pradip on Annie Besant Road when the luxury car's driver lost control and collided with their two-wheeler around 5:30 am.

The accused, Rajesh Shah, who was driving the car, and Rajrishi Rajendrasingh Bidawat, the other occupant, were taken to the police station following the incident. They were arrested in the evening after a preliminary investigation established their alleged involvement in the fatal crash, said an official from Worli police station.

Details of the Incident

Kaveri and Pradip Nakhwa are fisherfolk and were heading home to Worli Koliwada from Sassoon Dock in Colaba when the accident occurred. "Kaveri Nakhwa fell on the road. Passersby alerted police about the incident. She was rushed to civic-run Nair Hospital where doctors declared her dead on arrival," the official stated.

Shah and Bidawat have been charged under sections including 105 culpable homicide not amounting to murder of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which recently replaced the Indian Penal Code. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde commented on the incident, stating that the law is equal for everyone and no one would be spared.

Political Reactions

When asked if Shah was related to a Shiv Sena leader, CM Shinde responded, "The law is equal for all and the government sees every case in the same way. There will be no separate rule for this accident. Everything will be done as per the law. The police will not shield anyone." He added that he had spoken to the police department to ensure strict action.

Shiv Sena UBT leader and local MLA Aaditya Thackeray also addressed the incident in a post on X. "Visited the Worli Police Station today and met with senior police officers investigating into the hit and run case that occurred in Worli today. I will not go into the political leanings of Mr Shah, the accused of the hit and run, but I hope the police will act swiftly to catch the accused and bring him to justice. Hopefully there will be no political refuge by the regime," Thackeray said.

Support for Victim's Family

Thackeray mentioned that he and his MLC colleague Sunil Shinde met Pradip Nakhwa, Kaveri's husband, promising all necessary assistance to ensure justice is served. The case has drawn significant attention due to its tragic nature and potential political implications.

This incident comes less than two months after another high-profile accident involving a Porsche in Pune's Kalyani Nagar area on May 19. In that case, two IT professionals from Madhya Pradesh were killed when an allegedly intoxicated minor driver rammed into their motorcycle.

The Pune case gained national attention after it was revealed that there was an attempt involving the accused's parents and doctors from Sassoon Hospital to switch blood samples to nullify alcohol tests. Additionally, efforts were made to have a family driver take responsibility for the crash.

The Mumbai accident underscores ongoing concerns about road safety and accountability in high-profile cases. Authorities are expected to continue their investigation thoroughly to ensure justice for Kaveri Nakhwa.