A tragic hit-and-run incident in Chennai on Monday night has left a 24-year-old painter dead and stirred significant public outcry. The incident involved Madhuri, daughter of YSR Congress Party Rajya Sabha MP Beeda Masthan Rao, who was driving a BMW when she ran over Surya, a painter sleeping on the footpath in Besant Nagar.

The accident occurred late Monday night when Madhuri, reportedly accompanied by a female friend, lost control of the vehicle and struck Surya. Eyewitnesses recounted that Madhuri fled the scene immediately after the accident, while her friend remained briefly to argue with bystanders before also leaving. Surya, who had been sleeping on the footpath in an inebriated state, was rushed to a nearby hospital by some locals but succumbed to his injuries shortly after.

Surya had married only eight months ago, adding a layer of tragedy to the incident. Following the accident, his relatives and residents from his colony gathered at the J-5 Shastri Nagar Police Station, demanding justice and immediate action against those responsible.

Authorities reviewed CCTV footage and identified the vehicle involved, which was registered to the BMR (Beeda Masthan Rao) Group and registered in Puducherry. The police subsequently arrested Madhuri, but she was granted bail at the station, a decision that has sparked outrage among the local community.

Beeda Masthan Rao, who has been serving as a Rajya Sabha MP since 2022 and has a history as an MLA, is a well-known figure affiliated with the BMR Group, a prominent seafood industry company. This incident marks another high-profile hit-and-run case within a month, following the fatal Porsche accident in Pune involving a 17-and-a-half-year-old driver.