Law student chants ‘Om Namah Shivay’ after running over woman and injuring 7 others

A speeding Volkswagen Virtus, driven by 20-year-old law student Rakshit Chaurasiya, rammed into multiple two-wheelers near Amrapali shopping complex in Vadodara’s Karelibaug late Thursday night, killing a woman and injuring seven others. The deceased, Hemali Patel, had stepped out to buy Holi colours when the accident occurred. Two girls, aged 10 and 12, were among the injured, with three victims in critical condition.

Eyewitnesses reported that Chaurasiya, visibly intoxicated, stepped out of the wrecked vehicle shouting “Om Namah Shivay” and “Another round?” before being confronted by bystanders. CCTV footage captured the car hitting three two-wheelers at high speed before coming to a halt. Chaurasiya was arrested at the scene, while his co-passenger, Praanshu Chauhan, was tracked down and arrested later.

Police Commissioner Narasimha Komar confirmed that a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder has been registered. “The driver of the car has been arrested. The son of the car owner was traced after he left the crime scene… Police officials, forensic teams, and crime scene managers have examined the scene to collect forensic and scientific evidence,” Komar said. Multiple police teams, including the Crime Branch and Special Operations Group, have been assigned to investigate.

Chaurasiya, a student at MS University, and Chauhan, a mass communication student at Waghodia-based Parul University, had reportedly been driving recklessly from Uma Cross Road before the crash. Officials are conducting medical tests to determine whether they were under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicants. A third individual, who was allegedly with them before the accident, is also being tracked.

A viral video taken moments after the crash shows locals thrashing Chaurasiya before handing him over to the police. Chauhan, the son of the car’s owner, was seen attempting to distance himself from the driver. Investigators are reconstructing the sequence of events using CCTV footage, eyewitness statements, and forensic evidence.