Justice Bagchi is poised for a remarkable tenure, serving over six years in the top court, with the added distinction of holding the office of Chief Justice of India.

Rakshit Chaurasia, the accused in the Vadodara crash that left a woman dead and seven others injured, may have insisted that he would drive the car and convinced his friend Pranshu to shift to the seat next to the driver, CCTV footage from before the accident has indicated.

The 23-year-old law student, who is from Prayagraj and has been studying at MS University, Vadodara, has been arrested and charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder after the Volkswagen Virtus sedan driven by him crashed into three vehicles. Hemali Patel (35) died on the spot and seven others were injured.

A CCTV camera shows Rakshit and his friend Suresh reach the latter’s house on a scooter. Rakshit is seen riding the scooter as Suresh sits pillion. The two reach Suresh’s house around 10.30 pm on Thursday and Rakshit parks the scooter. The two then take the stairs to enter Suresh’s house. Rakshit is seen holding a bottle in his hand, but it is unclear what it contains.

About 15 minutes later, Pranshu Chauhan reaches Suresh’s house in the sedan. He parks the car outside and takes the stairs. At 11.25 pm, Rakshit and Pranshu are seen walking down and getting into the car. As Pranshu takes the driving seat, Rakshit walks towards him. At this point, an obstruction blocks the view and Rakshit cannot be seen. But Pranshu is seen talking to him before shifting to the next seat. It appears that Rakshit insisted that he would drive. The car then started moving. Shortly after, it crashed into three vehicles.

A video captured outside the accident shows the car’s front damaged and its airbags deployed. In the video, Pranshu says “hato tum” as Rakshit tries to hold him. Pranshu exits the car and says, “Pagal hai (he is mad)”. Rakshit then starts shouting “another round”. This is followed by “Nikita” and “Om Namah Shivay” before the crowd thrashes him. Pranshu Chouhan is on the run and police are looking for him. 

Police confirmed that Rakshit and Pranshu switched seats. Asked if Rakshit had insisted on the change, Police Commissioner Narasimha Komar said it is a matter of investigation.

Rakshit has claimed he was neither drunk nor speeding and blamed airbags for the crash. “We were overtaking a scooter, we turned right. There was a pothole and the car touched the other vehicle and the airbag opened. Our vision was hampered and the car went out of control,” he told the media. “I was told that one woman has died and a few have sustained injuries. I want to meet the family of the victims, it is my fault,” he said.

The incident has sparked massive outrage and victims and their families have demanded strict action to prevent the recurrence of such crashes. Vikas Kevlani, one of those injured, said fines won’t prevent such incidents. “Fine is not the solution. Only if there is strict action will they understand what they have done,” he said.

Inputs by Mahendra Prasad

Days after a woman died and several others were injured in a car crash in Vadodara, one of the injured men has claimed that the accused looked “intoxicated” and was speeding for “enjoyment”. 

Speaking to ANI, Vikas Kewalani, who is among the injured, has demanded strict action against the accused and said that such people will realise their mistake only when they get strict punishment.

Mr Kewalani said that he, along with his siblings and neighbours, had gone outside for refreshments. On their way back, a speeding vehicle hit them from behind, leaving one dead on the spot and several others injured, he said.

“I had gone out for refreshment with two others from my society. One of them was Hemali Patel, her husband is in critical condition. We were on our two-wheeler when a speeding car rammed our vehicle. I fell down and saw the car had hit the other vehicle as well and it flew in the air. The couple had suffered serious injuries,” he narrated.

“Such things can’t be controlled through just fine. Fine is not the solution. They will realise their mistakes only when they get strict punishment. My brother and sister have sustained fractures. I fractured my right elbow. The accused looked intoxicated. He was doing it (speeding) for enjoyment. Nobody in normal state could do and say such things,” Mr Kewalani told ANI.

Ms Patel died on the spot while eight others were injured in the accident, police said on Saturday.

The accused driver, Rakshit Ravish Chaurasia, is in police custody, said Vadodara Police Commissioner Narasimha Komar. He said more than three vehicles involved in the crash, including two scooters and an electric vehicle.

Multiple investigative teams are tracking the case.

The police have registered a drink-and-drive case against Chaurasia but the accused has claimed that he was not drunk on the night of the accident.

The accused said he had gone for a Holika Dahan celebration and did not attend any party. He stated that he was not drunk and was driving at a speed of 50 kmph. He has also requested to be allowed to meet the victim’s family members, taking responsibility for the accident.

“We were ahead of the scooter. There was a pothole on the road. There was a scooter and a car while we were turning right, and the car brushed the other vehicle. The airbag opened and hampered our vision, and the car went out of control,” said Chaurasia.

“We were going at 50 kmph. No one was there at that time, just a scooter and a car. I had no idea. I did not attend any party. I had gone for Holika Dahan and was not drunk. Today, I was told that one woman died and a few were injured. I want to meet the family of the victims. It is my fault and whatever they want that should happen,” he added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)