Maharashtra BJP chief son’s Audi runs amok in Nagpur, triggers pile-up, 2 hurt

NAGPUR: An Audi Q8 owned by Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekar Bawankule's son Sanket zoomed out of an upscale pub at 12.30am Monday, rammed three cars and a scooter, triggering a pile-up in Ramdaspeth, in the heart of Nagpur, before crashing into another vehicle 6km away at Mankapur, where the occupants of the car were dragged out by a mob.

Two persons were injured in the accident. Police said Arjun Haore, an engineer who was driving the car, and his businessman friend seated next to him, Ronit Chinthamwar, were arrested. Police sources said Haore is a friend of Sanket.

Zonal DCP Rahul Madne said blood samples of Haore and Chinthamwar have been sent to forensic lab to check for alcohol. "We are investigating the case from every angle," he said.

While the FIR does not mention Sanket or the car registration number, sources tracking the investigation said he may have wriggled out of the chaos and slipped away during the 10km ride, after he realised the situation was spinning out of control. However, a senior police officer told TOI Sanket was not present at the scene of crime.

What raised doubts on the police investigation was not only the car's registration number missing from the FIR but also the names of the accused. The registration plates of the car, currently in police custody, were dismantled and found concealed below the seat.

Conduct fair probe & nab guilty: Bawankule to cops

Talking to media persons on Monday, Bawankule said police should launch a fair and objective probe and swiftly act against the guilty. “Everyone is equal before law, irrespective of their influence. Whoever is guilty should be booked,” he said.

Bawankule admitted that the Audi belonged to his son, Sanket. What raised doubts on police investigation was not just the missing registration number of the Audi involved in the accident, but also names of the accused in the FIR. The registration plates of the car, currently in police custody, were dismantled and found concealed below the seat. CCTV footage from the site revealed that the Audi driver took off from the bar at Dharampeth and drove at breakneck speed for 2km, before crashing into a car and hitting several other vehicles in succession.

Earlier, after the pileup at Ramdaspeth wrecked Press Club employee Jeetendra Sonkamble’s car, two other vehicles in lane were impacted by the collision. The local Sitabuldi police soon sent out a message across police stations. Subsequently, the car accelerated in top gear and rammed another car on the Mankapur flyover, few km away.

The deafening noise of the crash drew the attention of Ganesha Mandal devotees, who along with the injured victims chased the car and intercepted it. The duo was thrashed, bundled into another vehicle and driven away to Timki, 6km from Mankapur.

Cops from Tehsil police station reached Timki to rescue them and drove them to a hospital for a check-up. Senior inspector Chandrashekhar Chakate, however, said the accident was merely a “kirkol ghatna” (trivial incident).