Ahmedabad: The city’s posh Vastrapur area witnessed shocking scenes of lawlessness late on Sunday when a heavily intoxicated man behind the wheel of an SUV went on a reckless rampage, injuring several people and damaging vehicles. The accused, identified as 24-year-old Haresh Thakor, a resident of Thaltej area, was reportedly driving under the influence when he lost control near Himalaya Mall on Drive-In Road. The FIR in the case was filed at 11.55pm on Monday.
This incident took place just a day after the city police commissioner claimed that law and order in the city is under control. Police will now probe how Thakor got liquor.
According to eyewitnesses, around 10pm on Monday, Thakor’s speeding Thar first rammed into a two-wheeler, then crashed into three cars, including a vehicle belonging to one Prerak Modi, who was travelling with his father and wife.
Modi’s vehicle was extensively damaged, with both bumpers broken, causing an estimated loss of Rs 20,000. When Modi confronted Thakor about his reckless driving, the accused allegedly turned aggressive, hurled abuses and started a violent altercation. He not only attacked Modi but also assaulted his elderly father, the complaint states. The father lost his mobile phone worth Rs 15,000 in the chaos, Modi told Vastrapur police.
As the situation escalated, an agitated crowd gathered, demanding action against Thakor. The accused allegedly pulled out a knife and charged at bystanders. The enraged crowd overpowered him and beat him before police arrived, a Vastrapur police official said.
This is yet another case of drunk driving in the city and the state overall. A drunk businessman ploughed his luxury cars into parked vehicles on the Bopal Ambli Road and also injured a woman. Earlier this year a 50-year-old, also allegedly drunk, was involved in a hit and run case in Mithakhali. A woman lost her life in the incident. More recently, on March 12 in Vadodara, law student Rakshit Chaurasia, allegedly intoxicated, killed a woman and injured several others with his reckless and drunk driving.