Mihir Shah, the primary suspect in the tragic BMW hit-and-run incident in Mumbai, has filed a legal plea in the Bombay High Court demanding his immediate release. Shah, who was arrested on July 9th, claims his detention is unlawful. The incident, which occurred in the Worli area on July 7th, saw Shah allegedly ram his BMW into a two-wheeler, resulting in the death of Kaveri Nakhwa (45) and injuries to her husband, Pradeep.
Shah’s petition, filed last week, argues that his arrest was illegal and demands the quashing of court orders that remanded him into police and subsequently, judicial custody. He maintains that any further detention would violate the Constitution and disregard Section 50 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which requires the police to inform a person of the reasons for their arrest.
The case has garnered significant attention due to the nature of the accident and the accused’s alleged actions. Shah is accused of fleeing the scene after the collision, leaving the victim on the bonnet of his car, where she remained entangled in the wheels for over 1.5 kilometers. Initial reports suggested that Shah was under the influence of alcohol, but forensic tests conducted on his blood samples have revealed a negative result, contradicting the police’s earlier statement.
The police have stated that the alcohol might have dissipated from Shah’s system by the time of his arrest, which occurred approximately 58 hours after the incident.
In addition to Mihir Shah, his father, Rajesh Shah, a former leader of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and their driver, Rajrishi Bidawat, were also arrested in connection with the case. While Rajesh Shah has been granted bail, Mihir Shah and Bidawat remain in judicial custody. The Bombay High Court is scheduled to hear Shah’s plea for release on Wednesday.
