The tragic incident in Vadodara, where 20-year-old Rakshit Chaurasiya rammed his car into five people — resulting in the death of a woman named Hemani Patel and leaving four others, including her minor daughter, seriously injured — has taken a troubling turn, with conflicting narratives emerging between the accused’s statements and the evidence gathered by authorities.
Chaurasiya, a law student from Varanasi studying in Vadodara, spoke to the media after the incident, vehemently denying allegations that he was drunk or driving recklessly. He claimed that the accident was purely an unfortunate mishap caused by an unexpected chain of events. According to his version, a pothole near an intersection caused his car to jolt, touching a scooter ahead of him. This, he said, triggered the airbag to deploy, blocking his view and resulting in him losing control of the vehicle. He repeatedly maintained that he was not speeding, asserting the car was moving at only 50 km/h, and insisted he saw only a scooter and a car in front of him, not the pedestrians. He also claimed he was returning home after attending Holika Dahan, denying any involvement in partying or substance use that night.
However, a video from the crash site paints a vastly different picture. The footage shows Chaurasiya stumbling out of the wrecked car, visibly intoxicated and shouting "another round" as bystanders restrained him, even as the injured victims lay scattered on the road. The video further contradicts his speed claim, showing the car racing down the street, reportedly at around 120 km/h, before violently crashing into two scooters, dragging the riders several meters before finally coming to a halt.
The police, after reviewing the footage and conducting an initial investigation, confirmed that Chaurasiya was indeed intoxicated and driving dangerously. Senior police officer Panna Momaya told the media that an FIR had been lodged and that they were thoroughly analyzing CCTV footage to reconstruct the events. Authorities arrested Chaurasiya on the spot and later apprehended his companion Mit Chauhan — the car’s owner and a fellow university student — who was traveling with him at the time of the crash. Chauhan was subjected to medical tests to determine whether he too was under the influence, though the results have yet to be released.
Adding to the heartbreak, it was revealed that Hemani Patel, the deceased victim, was riding her scooter with her young daughter to buy Holi colors when the speeding car struck her. She died on the spot, while her child and three other injured victims were rushed to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment.
Chaurasiya, despite his denials, appeared with a swollen, bruised face while speaking to the media, continuing to insist he was neither drunk nor speeding and claiming he didn’t even realize someone had died. His statements, however, have sparked outrage, especially given the stark contrast between his words and the damning video evidence.
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities determined to uncover the full truth. The case has drawn widespread attention, not only for the horrific nature of the accident but also because of Chaurasiya’s attempts to minimize his role in the tragedy — a move that has only intensified public anger and calls for strict legal action.
