Rajesh Shah, a prominent leader in the Eknath Shinde faction of Shiv Sena, was detained in Mumbai on Sunday following a tragic incident involving his son. Mihir Shah, who is currently on the run, allegedly crashed his BMW into a scooter, resulting in the death of a woman.

Alongside Rajesh Shah, the police also detained Rajrishi Bidawat, the BMW’s driver who was present during the accident, for questioning.

This incident is reminiscent of the recent Porsche crash in Pune, where a property developer's teenage son caused a fatal collision.

Timeline of Events

In the early hours of Sunday, fisherman Pradip Nakhwa, 50, and his wife Kaveri, 45, were heading back to their Koliwada home on a scooter after buying fish at Sassoon Dock in Colaba. Around 5:25 am, a speeding BMW struck their scooter from behind on Annie Besant Road. Kaveri fell onto the road, and the BMW fled the scene.

Passersby notified the police, and Kaveri was rushed to Nair Hospital, where she was declared dead on arrival.

The BMW, allegedly driven by Mihir Shah, was found abandoned in Kala Nagar, Bandra East. Mihir, 24, reportedly left the car there and fled in an auto-rickshaw. His companion, Rajrishi Bidawat, also took an auto-rickshaw to Borivali. Before going into hiding, Mihir reportedly visited his girlfriend's house, leading the police to question her for potentially sheltering him.

Police detained Rajesh Shah, the vehicle's registered owner, along with Rajrishi Bidawat for further questioning. According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Zone III Krishnakant Upadhyay, two individuals were in the BMW at the time of the crash. Investigations are ongoing to determine who was driving, and a case has been filed under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Motor Vehicles Act.

Reports suggest Mihir Shah may have been under the influence of alcohol, though this has not been confirmed by the police, who are still investigating.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde condemned the incident and assured strict action against those responsible. "This is a very unfortunate event," he stated. "I have spoken to the police. Regardless of who is involved, we will ensure justice is served. Everyone is equal before the law, and strict legal action will be taken."