A Mumbai court has ordered Mihir Shah, the principal suspect in the tragic Worli hit-and-run case, to be held in police custody until July 16. Shah’s arrest unfolded in Virar on Tuesday, following an extensive manhunt. The police presented him at the Sewri court in Mumbai on Wednesday.
Shah had evaded capture after his car was allegedly involved in a collision with a scooter on Dr. Annie Besant Road in Worli on Sunday, July 7. The incident triggered immediate outrage and concern, especially among the victim’s family and local residents. To apprehend Shah, Mumbai police assembled 14 specialized teams. Eventually, they succeeded in capturing not just Shah but also his associates, including Rajrishi Singh Bidawat and Shah’s father, Rajesh Shah, for their alleged roles in the incident.
The case has been particularly distressing for Pradeep Nakhwa, the husband of the deceased woman. Nakhwa openly questioned the tardiness in Shah’s arrest and speculated that the delay was political. He accused the authorities of dragging their feet because Shah is the son of a prominent political figure.
In an exclusive interview with ANI, Nakhwa narrated the events leading up to and following the heartbreaking accident. “We were on our daily routine as fishermen and were returning home through Peddar Road from the fish hatchery at around 4 am. We were traveling at a modest speed of 35-40 km/hr when a high-speed car rammed into us unexpectedly. We were thrown up into the air and landed on the car’s bonnet,” he said.
Nakhwa elaborated further, painting a horrifying picture of the ensuing moments. “When the driver hit the brakes, I fell to the left side of the road, but my wife tragically came under the wheels of his car. The driver did not stop; I tried to halt him, but he continued and dragged her from Ceejay House to Sea Link Road. Smoke was coming from the wheels as he dragged her along. Following this horrifying incident, he fled the scene,” Nakhwa added.
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According to the police, the 45-year-old victim was a resident of Worli Koliwada. At the time of the incident, her husband, Pradeep Nakhwa, was riding the scooter while she was the pillion passenger. Both sustained injuries, but tragically, the woman could not survive, succumbing to her injuries during treatment.
“The victims were on their way home after buying fish when their scooter was struck by the luxury car. Both sustained injuries, but unfortunately, the woman passed away while receiving medical treatment,” stated a police representative.
The police investigation also revealed that the luxury car involved in the horrific event belonged to a prominent political leader from Palghar, a region in Maharashtra. The connection has added an additional layer of complexity to the case, already fraught with public outrage and political implications.
The shocking incident in Worli mirrors another recent tragedy in Pune, where a luxury car driven by a 17-year-old under the influence of alcohol plowed into a motorcycle. That incident resulted in the deaths of two young software engineers in Pune’s Kalyani Nagar area on May 19.
The situation has distressed Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who expressed alarm over the increasing number of hit-and-run incidents in the state. On Monday, he called for stringent action against offenders, asserting, “The guilty will not be spared.” Shinde’s statement underscores the government’s intent for swift and decisive justice in hit-and-run cases.
The ongoing investigation has already led to tangible consequences. The Shiv Sena party took quick action by expelling Rajesh Shah, the father of the accused Mihir Shah, from their ranks following his arrest. The expulsion reflects a broader societal and political commitment to accountability, regardless of one’s connections or status.
As the legal and investigative wheels continue to turn, the victim’s family and the general public await justice. The upcoming days will likely bring further disclosures and potentially more actions as the case proceeds through the legal system. For now, all eyes remain on the authorities to ensure that justice is served.
(This story has not been edited by DNA staff and is published from ANI.)
