Vadodara accident: Accused speaks to news media, netizens ask how

A controversy has arisen around a TV interview granted by Vadodara accident accused Rakshit Chaurasiya, the 20-year-old law student who was driving the speeding vehicle which crashed into multiple two-wheelers in Gujarat's Vadodara in the very early hours of Friday. The brief interview shows the accused apparently making a case for himself.

A woman was killed on the spot and four others injured when the car crashed into their two-wheelers, the police said. In video footage that went viral on social media all through Friday, onlookers were heard yelling "three people have died because of you!" at Chaurasiya, who appeared intoxicated.

The deceased woman has been identified as Hemali Patel, who was riding her scooter at the time of the accident.

The accident occurred at around 12.30 am near Muktanand cross roads in the city's Karelibaug area, following which Chaurasiya was arrested, deputy commissioner of police Panna Momaya said.

It could be a case of drunk driving as eyewitnesses, who detained Chaurasiya at the scene, told police that he appeared intoxicated and was screaming “another round, another round” after coming out of the car, the official said. Glimpses of this behaviour is also visible in the purported footage, as are Chaurasiya's yells of 'om namah Shivaya', a chant in honour of Lord Shiva.

Chaurasiya, originally from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, lives in PG accommodation in Vadodara, Momaya told the media. “The car belonged to his friend Mit Chauhan, who was sitting in the co-driver’s seat when Chaurasiya rammed the car into some two-wheelers at full speed while going towards Muktanand circle,” she said.

Efforts are being made to track down Chauhan, the official said. That ought not to be too difficult, considering how clearly he is visible in a video captured by an eyewitness, showing him coming out of the car which has a wrecked front portion, and blaming Chaurasiya for the crash, calling him 'mad'.

Chaurasiya, who appears incoherent, keeps shouting, “Another round? Another round?”. The video also shows Chaurasiya being soundly thrashed by bystanders, who subsequently handed him over to the police.

In CCTV footage accessed by media, the speeding car can be seen hitting two scooters, knocking down the riders and dragging them along before coming to a halt.

“Primarily, the car was overspeeding. This can also be a case of drunk driving. We will conduct his medical test to determine whether he was under the influence of alcohol,” the DCP said, adding that Chaurasiya does own a driving licence.

The original question remains, however. How was a detainee, with a potential charge of culpable homicide hanging over his head, allowed to grant an interview to a news channel?

The comments underneath an X post asking this very same question recall last year's Pune Porsche crash and how the teenage driver in that case was initially asked to write an essay on road safety by the judge as punishment. Not surprisingly, many have wondered whether the Vadodara perpetrator is likely to get away with a similar slap on the wrist, specially since he has clearly demonstrated his religious allegiance, one which will presumably appeal to the ruling dispensation.

With PTI inputs