A high-speed crash involving a luxury Lamborghini driven by Shivam Mishra, son of tobacco businessman K.K. Mishra, left at least six people injured on Kanpur’s VIP Road on Sunday (Feb 8) afternoon, sparking widespread anger and raising serious questions about reckless driving, privilege, and accountability.
The incident occurred near Rev-3 Mall at around 3:15 pm, when the Lamborghini allegedly lost control and rammed into an auto-rickshaw, before smashing into a parked Royal Enfield motorcycle.
According to eyewitness accounts, the impact was so severe that the motorcycle rider was flung nearly 10 feet into the air, while the bike was dragged along the road before the car finally crashed into an electric pole.
Several pedestrians and commuters sustained injuries, with victims suffering fractured limbs and serious leg wounds. All the injured, along with the driver, were rushed to a nearby private hospital for treatment.
Soon after the crash, video footage surfaced on social media showing Shivam Mishra being carried away from the damaged vehicle by his bouncers, rather than being immediately handed over to police.
The car, according to eyewitnesses, first hit an auto-rickshaw and then crashed into a parked Royal Enfield motorcycle, flinging its rider nearly 10 feet into the air. The car mounted the motorcycle’s front wheel and dragged it for some distance before hitting an electric pole and coming to a halt.
Eyewitnesses alleged that Mishra attempted to flee the scene, while his security personnel, travelling in a separate vehicle, tried to block onlookers from recording videos and shield him from public anger. An enraged crowd later damaged the luxury car amid the chaos.
Mishra’s family has claimed that he suffered a sudden seizure while driving, leading to a loss of control over the vehicle. Police officials, however, have said the claim is under verification.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Atul Srivastava confirmed that authorities are investigating whether the accused has a documented medical history of seizures and, if so, how he was permitted to drive a high-performance sports car.
“The accident occurred around 3.15 pm near Rev-3 Mall when the luxury car, reportedly driven by Shivam Mishra, the son of businessman KK Mishra, went out of control and ploughed into people standing along the roadside and several vehicles, triggering panic in the area,” DCP (Central) Atul Kumar Srivastava said.
The case has drawn sharp criticism after reports emerged that the initial FIR did not name Mishra, referring instead to the driver as an “unknown person.” According to a Republic TV report, his name was added only later, fuelling allegations of preferential treatment.
A tense situation unfolded at the police station as victims and local residents accused the police of going soft on the accused due to his family’s influence. Protesters alleged that pressure was being exerted on victims to reach a compromise.
Shivam Mishra has previously attracted attention for his lavish lifestyle, frequently showcasing multiple luxury cars on social media. Reports suggest he owns vehicles collectively valued at over Rs 60 crore, many bearing the same registration number ‘4018’.
His father, K.K. Mishra, runs Banshidhar Exports Pvt Ltd, a company supplying raw materials to several gutkha manufacturers across India.
In March 2024, the Income Tax Department conducted raids at multiple locations linked to the company in Kanpur, Delhi, Mumbai, and Gujarat, reportedly uncovering financial irregularities and seizing documents and cash worth approximately Rs 4.5 crore.
As investigations continue in the Kanpur case, public focus remains firmly on whether the law will be enforced without fear or favour, or whether influence will once again dictate outcomes in cases involving wealth and power.
