In a tragic hit-and-run incident in Mumbai, Mihir Shah, son of a Shiv Sena politician, admitted to driving the car that killed 45-year-old Kaveri Nakhwa and injured her husband. The accident occurred in the Worli area after Shah and his friends consumed 12 large pegs of whiskey.
According to the Times of India, excise officials revealed that the 24-year-old and his two friends consumed four large pegs each at the Vice-Global Tapas Bar before the accident. The bar, located in Juhu, has since had its license suspended by the state excise department for serving alcohol to Shah, who is under the legal drinking age of 25. Additionally, the bar violated several other regulations, including selling liquor to non-permit holders in non-designated areas.
The incident happened at 5 am on July 7, just four hours after Shah and his friends left the bar at 1:30 am. Shah, now in police custody until July 16, admitted to driving the car during the accident but has yet to provide his driving license. Authorities have recorded statements from 14 individuals, including Shah’s family and friends, and plan to reconstruct the crime scene as part of the ongoing investigation.
Shah’s father, Rajesh Shah, a Shiv Sena leader from Palghar district, is also an accused in the case and is currently out on bail. Mihir Shah was arrested on July 9 from Thane district, two days after the incident.
An official stated that after crashing into the Nakhwas’ scooter, Shah was aware that Kaveri Nakhwa was stuck under the car but continued driving despite frantic signals from other motorists to stop. The horrific accident was captured by CCTV cameras at Mela Junction and Bindu Madhav Thackeray Chowk in Worli. Shah ignored pleas from other motorists to halt his vehicle and continued driving recklessly.
Following the accident, Shah and his family members went into hiding, with Shah shaving his beard and trimming his hair to conceal his identity. The police have charged Shah with culpable homicide not amounting to murder, among other offenses. Investigators plan to confront Shah and the family chauffeur, Rajrishi Bidawat, to piece together the events leading up to the crash.
This incident follows a similar tragic crash in Pune, where two young software engineers were killed, prompting authorities to close at least 60 bars across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region for various violations, including serving underage patrons and operating beyond permitted hours.
