The Vadodara car crash case has taken a new turn with the FSL report confirming that the accused, Rakshit Chaurasia, was under the influence of marijuana, not alcohol.
NEW DELHI: In a recent update on the tragic Vadodara car accident, the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Gandhinagar has revealed that the primary accused, Rakshit Chaurasia, was not under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash, but had consumed marijuana. The incident occurred on the night of March 14 and has since garnered national attention due to its severity and the circumstances surrounding it.
According to the findings released on Friday,
“blood samples collected from Chaurasia tested negative for alcohol but positive for cannabis”
The 20-year-old law student was reportedly driving a high-speed vehicle that rammed into multiple two-wheelers near the Muktanand crossroads in Vadodara’s Karelibaug area, resulting in the death of one woman and injuries to several others.
Police sources, as quoted by media , confirmed that
Chaurasia was accompanied by two others at the time of the incident — Praanshu Chauhan and Suresh Bharwad
The FSL report indicates that all three individuals had smoked marijuana before the accident. Following the confirmation, authorities have booked them under relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
In addition to the NDPS charges, Chaurasia faces action under
Section 185 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, which criminalizes driving under the influence of intoxicating substances, including drugs and alcohol.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 4), Panna Momaya, stated:
“We received the blood test results today. All three samples tested positive for drugs. The individuals were driving after consuming marijuana. We have already arrested Chaurasia and his co-passenger Praanshu Chauhan. The third accused, Suresh Bharwad, is currently absconding, and efforts are on to apprehend him.”
Chaurasia is currently lodged at Vadodara Central Jail, while Chauhan remains in police custody. Authorities are conducting a manhunt for Bharwad.
CCTV footage from the night of the accident has become a crucial piece of evidence, aligning closely with multiple eyewitness accounts and painting a disturbing picture of the moments leading up to the fatal crash. The visuals clearly show the car, allegedly driven by Rakshit Chaurasia, barreling down the road at an alarmingly high speed before making a sudden, sharp turn—ultimately ramming into a two-wheeler and causing chaos at the Muktanand crossroads in Vadodara’s Karelibaug area.
Eyewitnesses described Chaurasia’s behavior as highly erratic and unsettling, which is further confirmed by the footage capturing him shouting incoherent phrases like “another round, another round,” and repeatedly calling out for someone named “Nikita.” In a bizarre turn, he is also seen chanting “Om Namah Shivay,” behavior that has been widely interpreted as indicative of disorientation, possible panic, or substance-induced impairment.
After his arrest, Chaurasia appeared to trivialize the incident and shifted the blame to external factors in an attempt to minimize his accountability. While speaking to the media, he claimed the crash was the result of a pothole on the road and maintained that he was driving at a relatively low speed of 50 km/h—a claim starkly contradicted by the footage and witness statements. He further alleged that an emergency airbag had deployed unexpectedly and obstructed his vision, which he said led to the vehicle losing control.
However, these explanations have been met with widespread skepticism, especially in light of the recent Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report confirming the presence of cannabis in his system, though he tested negative for alcohol.
The tragedy has triggered widespread public outrage across the country, with many taking to social media and local forums to express their anger and demand justice. The case has once again brought to the forefront the urgent need for stricter enforcement of road safety laws, particularly those related to drug-impaired driving—a growing concern among youth in urban centers.
READ MORE REPORTS ON MOTOR VEHICLES ACT
FOR MORE LEGAL UPDATES FOLLOW US ON YOUTUBE