Police investigating Sunday’s fatal BMW crash on Mumbai’s Coastal Road have uncovered a troubling history involving the vehicle’s deceased driver, 21-year-old Shanay Falgun Gajjar. According to Tardeo police, Gajjar was allegedly involved in a drunken altercation outside 145 Cafe and Bar in Bandra West last month, and had previously been booked for rash driving near Breach Candy. The BMW itself also carries pending e-challans for speeding, obstructing traffic, and running a signal.
The August brawl
Police said Gajjar was booked alongside three others, Davin Sharma (24), Dhurav Gupta (21), and Gaurav Yadav (23) following an August 20 incident at 145 Pub. A Bandra police constable, while conducting late-night checks on establishment closing times, found the pub still open at 1:40 am. When he attempted to escort the manager to the police station, the four men allegedly resisted and got into a physical altercation with him. A case was registered under Section 221 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with charges under the Maharashtra Prohibition Act.
Earlier rash driving case
Investigators also found that Gajjar had been booked for speeding back on March 28, after a complainant, Omkar Shirke, alleged that a BMW sped past him while he was traveling from Breach Candy Hospital toward Mahalaxmi. Shirke reportedly confronted the driver near Mahalaxmi temple, leading to an argument. Gamdevi police subsequently registered a case under Sections 125 and 281 of the BNS and Section 184 of the Motor Vehicles Act.
Sunday’s crash
In connection with Sunday’s fatal accident, Tardeo police have booked Gajjar under Sections 106, 281, and 125 of the BNS. Officials are still awaiting the blood report to determine whether alcohol was a factor in the crash, which killed three people near Lotus Jetty on the Coastal Road bridge.
The lone survivor, 21-year-old Aaditya Oswal, remains in stable condition following surgery for multiple fractures at Breach Candy Hospital.
