Mumbai BMW hit-and-run: Police arrest key accused and Shiv Sena leader’s son Mihir Shah

Mumbai BMW hit-and-run: Three days after a woman was killed in an early morning hit-and-run involving a BMW allegedly driven by the son of a Shinde Sena leader, the Mumbai Police arrested the main accused, Mihir Shah, on Tuesday.

According to a police official, Mihir Shah was arrested near Mumbai. Mihir, 24, who managed to evade the police since Sunday morning, was arrested from Virar near Mumbai, a senior police official said.

The 24-year-old son of Eknath Shinde-led Palghar Shiv Sena leader Rajesh Shah had been absconding since the accident. Mumbai police formed 14 teams and also roped in the Crime Branch to nab him. The police also issued a lookout circular (LOC) against him.

According to the police, Mihir Shah took a car from Kalanagar to Borivali at the northern tip of the metropolis.

Mihir Shah was allegedly driving the BMW car, which fatally knocked down Kaveri Nakhwa (45) and injured her husband Pradeep while the couple was on their two-wheeler in Mumbai’s Worli area Sunday morning.

According to the police, Mihir Shah's father, Palghar Shiv Sena leader Rajesh Shah, actively ensured his son's escape and planned to tow the offending vehicle away.

Rajesh Shah and Rajrishi Bidawat were produced in the court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (Sewree) SP Bhosale on July 8 and remanded in 14-day judicial and one-day police custody, respectively. Rajesh Shah was, however, later granted bail by the court.

The probe into the BMW hit-and-run case has revealed that the car driven by the main accused, Mihir Shah, first dragged the 45-year-old victim. She was then run over a second time by the other accused, the chauffeur, Rajrishi Bidawat, just before the Bandra Worli Sea Link before the two fled. 

CCTV footage produced by police in court on Monday showed the car dragging Kaveri Nakhwa for 1.5 kilometres. Footage showed Mihir Shah and Bidawat pulling the woman off the bonnet, placing her on the road and then mowing her down again while reversing the luxury vehicle.

“They sped towards Kalanagar, where the vehicle's engine stalled. Mihir then called his father, Rajesh Shah, from Bidawat's phone and told him about the accident as well as the car's stalling. Rajesh Shah arrived at the spot in a Mercedes, spoke to Mihir and asked him to escape. Later, Rajesh Shah planned to tow the BMW from there,” Mumbai Police told a court on Monday.