The Mumbai police has lookout notice against the 24-year-old son of Ekanath Shinde-led Shiv Sena leader who is at large after allegedly fatally hitting a middle-aged woman in Worli on Sunday. Police had already arrested the Sena leader and his driver in connection with the case.
According to police, Mihir Shah, the Sena leader’s son, who was allegedly driving the BMW car fled from the scene after allegedly fatally knocking down 45-year-old Kaveri Nakhwa in front of Atria Mall in Worli during the early hours of Sunday. Police issued the lookout notice on Sunday evening fearing the suspect may flee from India.
"As there was a possibility of Mihir Shah fleeing the country, the Mumbai Police on Sunday evening issued an LOC against him," a police official told PTI. “The police have launched a search for the accused and formed six teams to trace him,” he added.
Police suspect Mihir was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident as he was spotted at a bar in Juhu area here a few hours before the incident. Police sources told the publication they have recovered a bill of Rs 18,000 of the bar and are verifying it. Police are also examining the CCTV footage from the bar.
Mihir is the son of Rajesh Shah, a prominent leader of the Shinde-led Sena faction in Palghar. Police arrested Rajesh and his driver Rajrishi Bidawat as the car was owned by the former. Police will be producing the accused in court later today.
The accused persons have been booked under various sections, including 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), according to the police.
Kaveri Nakhwa (45), resident of Worli Koliwada, was going with her husband Pradeep on the arterial Dr Annie Besant Road when the BMW car, allegedly driven by Mihir Shah, crashed into the couple's two-wheeler at around 5.30 am on Sunday. The car dragged the woman for more than 2km, a police official said. She was rushed to a hospital where doctors declared her dead on arrival.
After the accident, the accused fled towards the Bandra-Worli Sea Link. He left the car and his driver Rajrishi Bidawat, who was sitting next to him, near Kala Nagar in the Bandra area and ran away, police said.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said on Sunday law will take its course. “ The Mumbai accident is unfortunate. I have spoken to the police department to take strict action,” he had said.
-with PTI inputs.