MUMBAI: A 17-year-old Dubai resident visiting Mumbai for Eid allegedly rammed a rented SUV into a scooter in Chandivli on Sunday night, killing a 15-year-old boy and fleeing the scene.
Police said the accused was traced within hours, apprehended, and produced before the Juvenile Justice Board, which sent him to a correctional home till March 27.
According to Sakinaka police, the teen’s family initially tried to mislead investigators by claiming he had travelled to Mira Road after the accident. However, he was later found hiding at a relative’s residence in Chandivli.
Authorities have also initiated action against Mohammed Anas Moharramalli Khan (22), an MBBS student who had rented the SUV. Police said a notice has been served to him and his role in the incident is under investigation.
The victim, Pratik Mane (15), sustained severe head injuries and was rushed to Rajawadi Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 10) Datta Nalawade said the accused had arrived in Mumbai last week to celebrate Eid with family in Sakinaka.
Pratik’s brother, Sumit Mane (22), told police that the two had left their Chandivli home on a scooter to make purchases for an upcoming family wedding. As they approached a housing society on Nahar Amrit Shakti Road, an SUV allegedly sped out of the gate and collided with them before fleeing. CCTV footage captured only a partial registration number.
A police team led by SI Mohan Kotlawar tracked the vehicle through the rental agency, identified Khan through submitted documents, and reconstructed the route taken by the SUV to locate the accused.
Pratik’s father works as an autorickshaw driver, while his mother is a domestic worker.
Mandeep Singh Makkar, a member of the Chandivli Citizens Welfare Association, said this was the second such incident in the area involving a minor driver. He pointed to a September 2023 case in which a 14-year-old allegedly caused serious injuries to a senior citizen.
Calling for stricter enforcement, Makkar said, “The lack of strong legal action has failed to deter guardians from allowing minors to drive. This negligence has now led to a tragic loss of life. Strict accountability is needed to ensure public safety.”
