In a tragic hit-and-run incident, 21-year-old Darshan Hegde lost his life after being struck by a speeding Mercedes in Thane, Maharashtra. The incident occurred on the night of October 20, while Darshan was returning home after buying food. According to the police, the car was heading toward Nashik Highway when it hit Darshan. The driver fled the scene immediately after the collision.
On October 21, the police identified the driver as Abhijeet Nair, though he remains at large. The Mercedes was later seized by the authorities as they initiated an investigation. A case has been registered at Naupada Police Station under sections 106(2), 281, and 125(B) of the Indian Penal Code, along with relevant sections of the Motor Vehicles Act. However, the police have not yet apprehended the accused.
The accident occurred near the residence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, adding to the urgency of the investigation. Authorities are currently reviewing CCTV footage from the surrounding areas to track the events leading up to the accident. However, reports suggest that several CCTV cameras in the vicinity were not functioning at the time, potentially hampering the investigation.
This hit-and-run marks the fourth such incident in Maharashtra in the past six months, highlighting a growing concern over reckless driving and road safety in the state.
Troubling pattern of hit-and-run cases in Maharashtra
The recent incident in Thane is part of a disturbing trend of fatal hit-and-run cases involving luxury vehicles. Earlier this year, in May, Pune witnessed a shocking case where a 17-year-old boy, driving a Porsche, struck two people on a bike, resulting in their deaths. The boy, a minor and the son of a prominent builder was under the influence of alcohol at the time. Initially, he was granted bail by the Juvenile Justice Board, later public outrage and social media protests led to his re-arrest and the filing of additional charges.
In another incident, Mihir Shah, the son of a Shiv Sena leader, allegedly hit a woman with his BMW in Mumbai, causing her death. Despite efforts to apprehend him, Mihir has been on the run since the incident. CCTV footage shows him leaving a pub in Mumbai before switching cars, further complicating the investigation.
On October 10, in Pune, an Audi hit and killed a food delivery boy, Rauuf Akbar Shaikh, in a similar hit-and-run case. The driver, Ayush Tayal, a senior officer at a private company, was arrested after police reviewed CCTV footage from the scene.
The frequency of such cases in Maharashtra has raised concerns over road safety, and the public is demanding stricter enforcement of traffic laws and accountability for offenders.
As the investigation into Darshan Hegde’s death continues, authorities are under pressure to not only bring Abhijeet Nair to justice but also address the broader systemic issues that allow such tragedies to occur.
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