Mumbai police launch massive manhunt for BMW hit-and-run accused

In a recent high-profile hit-and-run case, a speeding BMW allegedly driven by a Shiv Sena leader's son hit a couple on a bike in Mumbai's Worli on July 7, killing a 45-year-old woman and injuring her husband, prompting a massive manhunt to trace the accused who is on the run.

Six police teams are on the lookout for 24-year-old Mihir Shah after investigations revealed he was driving drunk when his car crashed into a scooter. A lookout circular has been issued against the accused. When police reached his home, it was found locked, and the whereabouts of his mother and sister are unknown.

Meanwhile, his father, Rajesh Shah, deputy leader of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena in Maharashtra's Palghar district, and his driver Rajrishi Singh Bidavat, who were detained after the incident, will be produced in court on July 8. Rajesh was arrested for not cooperating with the police investigation, according to media reports.

Fish sellers Kaveri and Pradeep Nakhva were on their way back from Sassoon Dock after buying fish when their scooter was hit from behind by the car around 5:30 am. The impact of the collision flung the couple into the air, landing them on the car's bonnet. While Pradeep managed to jump off, Kaveri was dragged for 100 meters and died on the way to the hospital.

The suspect, Mihir Shah, who has studied till Class 10 and did not pursue further education, has been absconding since the accident. He looks after his father's construction business based in Maharashtra.

The investigation so far has revealed that Mihir drank at a bar in Juhu until late on July 6 night, and his driver picked him up in the high-end BMW. However, after reaching Worli, Mihir insisted on driving but soon lost control of the steering and hit the Nakhvas.

The accused reportedly called his father, told him about the accident, and then switched off his phone. After the crash, Mihir tried to remove a Shiv Sena sticker from the car and its number plate to avoid any links to his father. He then abandoned the car in Bandra Kalanagar and fled the scene. The police believe his girlfriend may have helped him hide after the accident.

An FIR has been registered under the new criminal code Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita under sections pertaining to culpable homicide not amounting to murder, rash driving, and destruction of evidence, including provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act.

The Worli hit-and-run comes just over a month after the Porsche hit-and-run incident in Pune left two 24-year-old engineers dead. The minor accused in the Pune crash was speeding in a Porsche while drunk.

Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde called the July 7 incident "unfortunate" and assured strict action. "The law will take its own course; everyone is equal before the law," he said.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Shinde said he was “deeply alarmed” by the rise in the number of hit-and-run incidents in Maharashtra. “It is intolerable that the powerful and influential misuse their status to manipulate the system. Such miscarriages of justice will not be tolerated by my government,” he wrote.

“The lives of ordinary citizens are precious to us. I have directed the state police department to handle these cases with utmost seriousness and ensure justice is served. In addition, we are implementing stricter laws and harsher penalties for hit-and-run offenders,” he said.

“No one, whether rich, influential, or the offspring of bureaucrats or ministers, affiliated with any party, will have immunity as long as I am the Chief Minister of the state. I have zero tolerance for injustice,” he added.

Aaditya Thackeray of Shiv Sena's Uddhav Thackeray faction rushed to the Worli police station, where he said, "I will not go into the political leanings of Shah, the accused of the hit-and-run, but I hope the police will act swiftly to catch the accused and bring him to justice. Hopefully, there will be no political refuge by the regime."