'These boys need to be taught a lesson,' SC declines to consider bail plea in 2024 Mumbai BMW hit-and-run case

Mihir Shah (24) was arrested on July 9 last year, two days after he allegedly rammed his BMW car into a two-wheeler in Mumbai's Worli area, killing Kaveri Nakhwa (45) and leaving her husband, Pradeep Nakhwa, injured.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court declined to consider bail plea of Mihir Shah, the son of a former Shiv Sena leader, in the 2024 Mumbai BMW hit-and-run case, saying "these boys need to be taught a lesson".

A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and A G Masih noted that the accused belonged to an affluent family and his father was associated with the Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led faction of the Shiv Sena.

"He parks his Mercedes in the shed, takes out his BMW and crashes it and goes absconding. Let him be inside for some time. These boys need to be taught a lesson," the bench observed on Friday while refusing to entertain the bail plea.

Senior advocate Rebecca John, appearing for Shah, said the high court allowed him to seek bail after the testimonies of key witnesses were recorded in the case.

However, in view of the court's observation, she sought permission to withdraw the plea, which was allowed.

Shah (24) was arrested on July 9 last year, two days after he allegedly rammed his BMW car into a two-wheeler in Mumbai's Worli area, killing Kaveri Nakhwa (45) and leaving her husband, Pradeep Nakhwa, injured.

The accused allegedly sped off towards the Bandra-Worli Sea Link after the accident, even as the woman remained on the bonnet of the car and then got entangled in its wheels for a distance of more than 1.5 kilometres.

Shah's driver, Rajrishi Bidawat, who was also present in the car at the time of the accident, was arrested on the day of the alleged accident.

Both the accused are in judicial custody.

Shah challenged the November 21 order of the Bombay High Court that rejected his bail plea in the case noting that he was heavily inebriated and failed to stop the car even after hitting a scooter and dragging the victim under his vehicle.

The high court had said in the order that the conduct of the accused at the time of the alleged offence and afterwards does not inspire confidence in the court to grant him bail.

It had said that Shah accidentally crashed into the scooter but sped away at high speed, dragging the victim underneath the car.