Just weeks before his reckless driving caused a fatal accident, law student Rakshit Chaurasia was caught misbehaving but was released by the police after a written apology. Now, questions arise if stricter action earlier could have prevented this tragedy.
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Vadodara: Law student Rakshit Chaurasia, who was arrested for reckless driving that resulted in the tragic death of a woman and left seven others injured, had a previous run-in with the police just a few weeks ago.
However, despite his misbehavior, no legal action was taken against him at that time, and he was allowed to walk free after giving a written apology.
According to a Times of India report, last month, Rakshit Chaurasia and his friends caused a disturbance outside a residential building in Fatehganj. The noise and chaos troubled the local residents. When a lawyer living there objected to their behavior, the group did not back down. Instead, they allegedly threatened and abused him.
The lawyer immediately called the police for help. The police arrived and took Rakshit and his friends to the Sayajiganj police station. However, despite their misconduct, no official complaint was filed against them. Instead of facing any legal consequences, they were let off after signing a written apology.
This earlier police inaction has now come under scrutiny after Rakshit’s reckless driving led to one person’s death and left seven others injured. Many are now questioning whether stricter action at that time could have prevented this tragedy.
BACKGROUND
A 20-year-old law student, Rakshit Chaurasiya, whose car collided with several vehicles and pedestrians in Vadodara, resulting in one death and multiple injuries, told police that he couldn’t see the road because the airbags had deployed inside the vehicle.
Chaurasiya and a friend were returning from Dera Circle after dropping off another friend following a Holika Dahan celebration, a bonfire lit on the eve of Holi.
He recounted,
“We were ahead of a scooter, turning right when we encountered a pothole. There was a scooter and a car parked near the right turn. Our car touched the scooter, and the airbags opened. After that, I couldn’t tell where the car went.”
He stated that the car was traveling at a speed of 50-60 km/h at the time of the accident.
Initially denying any substance use, he later confessed to consuming bhaang (cannabis). He expressed a desire to meet the victims’ families and acknowledged his responsibility, saying,
“I was told that one woman has died and a few have sustained injuries. I want to meet the family of the victims; it is my fault, and whatever they want should happen.”
A viral video from Thursday night captured the incident, showing Chaurasiya’s car crashing into multiple vehicles at a busy intersection in Vadodara’s Karelibaug area. The crash resulted in the immediate death of a woman identified as Hemaliben Patel, while three to four others were seriously injured, including a 12-year-old named Jaini, a 35-year-old woman named Nishaben, an unidentified 10-year-old girl, and an unidentified 40-year-old man.
Footage following the accident depicted Chaurasiya’s friend emerging from the car, Clearly upset about the incident, while Chaurasiya exited the vehicle appearing unstable and shouting incoherently. He repeatedly exclaimed, “Another round” and “Om Namah Shivay.”
Leena Patil, Joint Commissioner of Police, confirmed that the driver was intoxicated and had been taken into custody. Vadodara Police Commissioner Narasimha Komar noted that more than three vehicles were involved in the incident, which included two active vehicles and one electric vehicle (EV).
According to police reports, the car was driven rashly and collided with multiple vehicles. Eyewitnesses mentioned that the car took a sharp turn from the front mode, prompting many bystanders to escape.
However, the four-wheeler still managed to hit several vehicles, killing one woman on the spot and leaving four to five others injured.
Police confirmed it was a case of drink and drive. The car’s speed suspected to be over 100 kmph. The entire accident was captured on CCTV from the nearby Amrapali Complex. The driver has been identified as Rakshit Ravish Chaurasia, a resident of Varanasi who is currently studying law at MS University in Vadodara.
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Reports stated that Rakshit was intoxicated while driving. He crashed the car into three two-wheelers, killing one person and leaving seven others seriously injured. All injured victims are currently undergoing treatment at a hospital.
Following the incident, senior police officials, the city BJP president, and the local BJP Member of Parliament (MP) visited the accident site. Due to the severity of the accident, the Rangotsav program, which was scheduled in the area on the occasion of Holi, has been canceled.
The revised penal provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, replacing the Indian Penal Code (IPC), have sparked protests from certain private truck and bus operators. They argue that the new punishments for rash and negligent driving are excessively harsh and seek reconsideration.
Section 106 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)
- Section 106(1): Causing death by any rash or negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide is punishable with imprisonment of up to five years and a fine. This is an enhancement from the IPC’s earlier provision of up to two years.
- Section 106(2): In hit-and-run cases where a driver causes death by rash and negligent driving and fails to report the incident promptly to a police officer or magistrate, the punishment is imprisonment of up to 10 years along with a fine.
While protestors claim the provision imposes a Rs.10 lakh fine, the section does not specify any particular amount. The actual fine will be determined by the courts.
Officials clarified that if an individual promptly reports an accident leading to death or serious injury, they would only be prosecuted under Section 106(1), which is a bailable offence with a maximum imprisonment of five years. However, failure to report triggers Section 106(2), which is non-bailable and carries a harsher penalty of up to ten years.
Under the earlier Section 304A of the IPC, causing death by rash or negligent acts, including hit-and-run incidents, was punishable with imprisonment of up to two years, a fine, or both.
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