The accused in the Vadodara accident case consumed drugs and switched seats before the crash. Blood samples have been sent for forensic testing to identify the substances used. A senior police official stated that if reports confirm the driver, Chaurasiya, was under the influence, strict legal action will follow. The investigation is ongoing.
Rakshit Chaurasiya, a 23-year-old law student accused of killing a woman and injuring seven others in a car crash in Vadodara on March 13, was reportedly under the influence of drugs and had switched seats to take control of the vehicle, according to ongoing investigations.
Senior police officials disclosed that a narcotics rapid test kit confirmed the presence of drugs in Chaurasiya after he was detained following the crash.
However, they noted that the results from such rapid tests are not admissible as evidence in court.
Consequently, blood samples from Chaurasiya, his co-passenger Praanshu Chauhan, and another friend present before the crash have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for detailed analysis. While rapid test kits can detect drug groups like opiates and amphetamines, forensic blood examinations can identify the specific drugs present.
Additionally, hair and nail samples can indicate drug use for up to 100 days. Police expect the blood test results from the FSL within a week.
A senior Vadodara police officer stated,
“If the report concludes that the accused driver, Chaurasiya, was driving under the influence of a drug, relevant sections will be invoked.”
CCTV footage prior to the crash suggests that Chaurasiya may have insisted on taking the wheel. The footage shows that at around 11:25 PM, Chaurasiya and Chauhan entered the Volkswagen Virtus sedan. Initially, Chauhan was in the driver’s seat, but shortly after, he switched seats with Chaurasiya. Following this switch, the crash occurred.
The police confirmed that the two had changed seats and are investigating whether Chaurasiya insisted on the switch.
Chaurasiya has claimed that he was neither drunk nor speeding, stating,
“We were overtaking a scooter, we turned right. There was a pothole and the car touched the other vehicle, and the airbag deployed. Our vision was hampered, and the car went out of control. I heard that one woman has died and a few others have been injured. I want to meet the family of the victims; it is my fault.”
The incident has created public outrage, with victims and their families demanding strict action against the accused to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
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.