VADODARA: A Vadodara court on Saturday granted the police one-day custody of Rakshit Chaurasiya, a law student accused of causing a car accident that killed one person and injured eight others on Thursday night.
The court’s decision followed a late-night hearing on Friday, as confirmed by Vadodara police commissioner Narsimha Komar.
In their remand request, the police stated that further investigation was needed to reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to the crash and determine whether Chaurasiya was deliberately driving under the influence.
Authorities are also probing his connection with Praanshu Chauhan, the son of the car’s owner, who was present in the vehicle at the time of the incident.
According to the police, Chaurasiya was driving while his friend, Meet Chauhan—the vehicle’s owner—was in the passenger seat.
Near Amrapali Complex, he first hit a woman on a two-wheeler before colliding with two more bikers. The impact was so severe that the car’s airbags deployed. As the vehicle came to a halt, Chauhan exited and repeatedly said, “I didn’t do anything. He was driving the car,” while pointing at Chaurasiya.
Chaurasiya, a fourth-year law student at M S University, then stepped out and began shouting “another round,” “uncle,” and “Om Namah Shivay” loudly. Passersby chased him down to prevent his escape, and some angry locals assaulted him before the police arrived. CCTV footage captured the entire incident.
The injured, including a child, were rushed to the hospital. Senior police officials confirmed that Chaurasiya has been charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder, while Chauhan’s blood samples have been taken for testing. If found intoxicated, he will face charges under the Prohibition Act.
“The deceased woman has been identified as Hemali Patel. Her husband, Purav Patel, who was riding with her, is in critical condition,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Panna Momaya.
Police suspect that Chaurasiya’s shout of “another round” indicated his intention to continue reckless driving and endanger more lives. Originally from Uttar Pradesh, he resides in a rented house in Vadodara’s Nizampura area.
‘We were going at 50km/hr’
Chaurasiya denied being intoxicated while driving. Speaking to the media, he claimed that the accident occurred when his car hit a two-wheeler, causing the airbag to deploy and obstruct his vision.
“We were going ahead of the scooty, we were turning right, and there was a pothole on the road. There was a scooty and a car while we were turning right. The car slightly touched the other vehicle, and the airbag opened suddenly, our vision was hampered, and the car went out of control.”
“We were going at 50 km/hour. There were no people at that time, just a scooter and a car. I had no idea. I did not do any party, I went for Holika Dahan and was not drunk. Today, I was told that one woman has died and a few have sustained injuries. I want to meet the family of the victims, it is my fault, and whatever they want, that should happen…”