Vadodara Car Crash Accused Had Run In With Law Last Month, Cops Let Him Off After Apology

Less than a month before his reckless driving on a Vadodara road resulted in the death of a woman and injuries to seven others, 20-year-old Rakshit Chaurasia had a prior encounter with the law but was let off with an apology.

A lawyer had taken him and his friends to the Sayajiganj police station after they caused a disturbance at a residential apartment in Fatehganj.

Photo Credit: ANI

The lawyer's office is located in the same building where Rakshit and his friends had gathered for a party. Disturbed by the noise, the lawyer asked them to lower their voices. However, the group allegedly responded with threats and abuse. The lawyer called the police, and residents of the building confronted the rowdy youngsters.

The police took them to the station, where they were required to submit a written apology before being allowed to leave. No formal complaint was lodged, and the station diary recorded the compromise between both parties.

Fast forward to March 13, and a car driven by Rakshit collided with three vehicles in Vadodara's Karelibaug area, killing a woman and injuring seven others. A viral video captures him stepping out of the vehicle, shouting incoherent phrases such as "another round," "Nikita," and "Om Namah Shivay." Eyewitnesses claim he was intoxicated.

Rakshit has since been arrested, while police are searching for his co-passenger, Pranshu Chouhan. A law student at MS University, Rakshit now faces charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Authorities are investigating whether he was under the influence of alcohol at the time.

Holi Turns Tragic for the Victims

Hemali Patel, 37, had gone out with her husband, Purav, to buy colours for their daughter on the evening before Holi. They were riding a scooter when Rakshit's car struck them. Hemali died on the spot, while Purav remains in critical condition.

The car then crashed into two more two-wheelers-one carrying siblings Vikas, Komal, and Jayesh, and another with Nisha Shah and her children, Jainil and Rency. All of them are currently undergoing treatment for serious injuries.

"I Wasn't Drunk"

Rakshit has denied driving under the influence. "We were ahead of a scooter, turning right, and there was a pothole. The car touched the other vehicle, and the airbag deployed. Our vision was obstructed, and the car went out of control," he told the media. He claimed he was driving at 50 km/h and was not intoxicated.

Rakshit also asserted that he was not returning from a party but had attended a 'Holika Dahan' event.

"I was informed that a woman has died and a few others have been injured. I want to meet the victims' families-it is my fault," he admitted. Originally from Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, Rakshit is a student of law.

Struggling to Walk, Hands on Ears

A video released by news agency ANI shows Rakshit at the crash site as police attempt to reconstruct the events of that night. He is seen struggling to walk while officers hold him by the arms.

Following the series of collisions, he was roughed up by an angry crowd, leaving visible injuries on his face. During the crime reconstruction, he was seen holding his ears-a common gesture of apology-while officers escorted him into a police van.

What the Police Said

The crash has made national headlines and sent shockwaves through Vadodara. The city's Police Commissioner, Narasimha Komar, confirmed that multiple teams are investigating the case. "Three other vehicles were involved in the incident. Several investigative teams are working on the case, gathering evidence from the crime scene. Police are tracking the movements of the driver and his co-passenger. Further investigation is ongoing," he stated.