Bandra Hit-and-Run: Megha Rawal Sent to Judicial Custody After 8-Year-Old's Death

A 45-year-old woman, Megha Rawal, was produced before the Bandra Court on Tuesday and remanded to judicial custody in connection with a fatal hit-and-run incident in Bandra West that claimed the life of an eight-year-old boy.

Rawal was sent to judicial custody after her initial one-day police remand ended earlier in the day. The victim's family and local residents gathered outside the court premises, demanding strict action against the accused as she was escorted inside by the police.

The fatal collision occurred on Sunday when eight-year-old Ansh Gupta was allegedly struck by an Innova Crysta in Bandra West. Following the collision, an auto-rickshaw driver rushed the injured child to Holy Family Hospital in Bandra West, where medical staff declared him dead at around 3:45 pm. The boy was an only child.

Following information from bystanders, a team from Bandra Police arrived at the scene and conducted a panchnama. Rawal was taken into custody and subsequently arrested. Investigators have sought the assistance of Regional Transport Office (RTO) experts to examine the SUV, bearing registration number 24 BH 0455 B, to establish the circumstances and exact cause of the crash.

An eyewitness has alleged that Rawal was speaking on her phone and driving at high speed at the time of the collision. Bandra Police stated that these eyewitness claims will be independently verified during the course of the investigation.

The deceased child's parents have also raised allegations that Rawal was driving under the influence of alcohol and attempted to flee the scene after hitting Ansh. They stated that local bystanders intervened and stopped her from leaving the area.

Bandra Police have registered a case under Sections 105, 281, and 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), alongside Section 184 of the Motor Vehicles Act. The charges encompass culpable homicide not amounting to murder, rash driving, acts endangering life, and dangerous driving. Further police investigation remains underway.