In yet another tragic hit-and-run incident, the 26-year-old son of a Congress leader in Karnataka, Prajwal Shetty, has been accused of killing a biker while driving a Thar SUV. The accident occurred early Wednesday morning in Udupi district, near Belapu village, where CCTV footage captured the speeding SUV colliding with a two-wheeler approaching from the opposite direction.
The victim, Mohammad Hussain, a 39-year-old resident of Udupi, suffered severe injuries from the crash. Despite being rushed to the hospital, he succumbed to his injuries a day later. The Shirva Police arrested Prajwal Shetty on Thursday, but sources confirmed that he was released on bail shortly after his arrest.
The CCTV visuals, taken from a nearby house, show the Thar SUV recklessly speeding across a narrow street before hitting Hussain’s bike. The impact was so severe that the bike was thrown several meters away. Witnesses alleged that Prajwal Shetty fled the scene immediately after the accident.
Prajwal Shetty is the son of Deviprasad Shetty, a well-known Congress leader from the Belapu region in Udupi. The incident has sparked public outrage, with many demanding stricter enforcement of road safety laws and equal justice regardless of political influence.
This accident follows a spate of recent hit-and-run cases in Karnataka. Last month, a speeding car in Mangaluru veered onto a footpath, killing one woman and injuring four others. Similarly, in July, a speeding car was caught on CCTV hitting a bike and two students in Raichur district, underscoring the growing menace of reckless driving in the state.
Authorities are now under public scrutiny to ensure that justice is served in this case amid growing calls to prioritize road safety and curb the rising incidents of fatal accidents involving influential individuals.