Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Sep 22: Shanay Gajjar, the 21-year-old student who was driving the BMW that plunged around 70 feet from the Coastal Road flyover near Lotus Jetty early Sunday, had previously faced two cases registered by Mumbai Police, officials said.
Gajjar died in the crash along with two other passengers. In March, Gamdevi police registered a case against him for allegedly driving dangerously and endangering the lives of others. Last month, Bandra police also registered a case against Gajjar and three of his friends following an alleged drunken altercation with police outside a pub.
The fatal accident occurred on Sunday when the BMW was travelling from Marine Drive towards Haji Ali on the northbound carriageway. The car plunged from the flyover, killing Gajjar and passengers Dhairya Sheth, 17, and Aditya Jaskania, 19. All three victims were from Ahmedabad.
Another passenger, Aditya Oswal, 23, sustained multiple injuries and is undergoing treatment at a hospital.
Tardeo police on Monday registered a case against Gajjar for allegedly causing death by negligence, rash driving and dangerous driving.
CCTV footage showed the BMW travelling at high speed before the crash. The impact was so severe that one of the victims was thrown around 20 feet from the vehicle, while another was found outside the car.
Police said Gajjar was still partly inside the vehicle after the crash, with his leg on the accelerator.
The Bandra case was registered in August against Gajjar and his three friends for allegedly obstructing a public servant in the discharge of public functions and under provisions of the Maharashtra Prohibition Act. The four were served notices and allowed to leave. Police are yet to file a chargesheet in that case.
According to police constable Baban Sagare, the four men were allegedly involved in a fight after partying at a pub on the night of August 19-20. They initially left after police intervened but later began arguing among themselves on the road.
Police alleged that when officers intervened again and asked them to leave, the four, who were allegedly under the influence of alcohol, argued with the police and charged towards them.
All four were taken to Bandra police station, where they allegedly created a disturbance. They were later taken to Bhabha Hospital for medical tests.
A police officer said the four allegedly refused medical examination and blood tests, following which the medical officer recorded their refusal.
Gajjar had also faced a case in March over an alleged dangerous driving incident.
On March 29, Omkar Shirke, 29, a businessman and resident of Tardeo in central Mumbai, lodged an FIR against the driver of a BMW bearing registration number DD 01 C 6302.
Shirke told police that on the night of March 28, while he was travelling towards his residence, a speeding BMW allegedly passed dangerously close to him.
He later spotted the vehicle near Mahalaxmi temple and questioned its driver, who allegedly gave evasive replies. Police subsequently issued a notice to Gajjar.
A case was registered against him under Section 184 of the Motor Vehicles Act for dangerous driving and Sections 125 and 281 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), relating to an act endangering the life or personal safety of others and rash driving or riding on a public way.