Kanpur Lamborghini Crash: Tobacco Baron’s Son Shivam Mishra Arrested After 4 Days, ‘Ghost Driver’ Theory Collapses

Kanpur: Tobacco tycoon KK Mishra’s son Shivam Mishra was arrested on Thursday, four days after his Lamborghini mowed down pedestrians and rammed into parked vehicles on the city’s VIP Road.

The arrest comes amid mounting public outrage, explosive CCTV revelations and a failed attempt by the defence to project a “designated driver” as the one behind the wheel.

Arrest After Days Of Scrutiny

The February 8 crash triggered chaos on Kanpur’s busy VIP Road when the Rs 10 crore Lamborghini ploughed into pedestrians and vehicles, injuring at least six people. Eyewitnesses at the scene had claimed that Shivam Mishra, 45, was seen being pulled out of the driver’s seat by private security personnel moments after the accident.

However, in a development that raised eyebrows, Shivam’s name was not initially included in the FIR and police action reportedly began nearly 24 hours after the crash, sparking allegations of a cover-up.

The case was registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, including Sections 281, 125(a), 125(b), and 324(4), dealing with rash driving, causing hurt and endangering life. Yet, for four days, no arrest was made.

Thursday’s arrest marks the first major breakthrough in the case.

Courtroom Drama: ‘Driver’ Steps Forward

On Wednesday, the case took a dramatic legal turn when a man identified as Mohan appeared before a Kanpur court, claiming he was the one driving the Lamborghini at the time of the crash.

Shivam Mishra’s counsel, Dharmendra Singh Dharmu, maintained that his client was merely a passenger who had felt unwell, leading to the chaotic visuals of bouncers pulling him out of the car. The defence filed an application seeking the release of the seized Lamborghini and submitted an affidavit from Mohan, who described himself as the family’s designated driver and sought to surrender.

Speaking to Republic earlier, Mohan claimed he was from Tamil Nadu and insisted he was behind the wheel. When confronted with CCTV footage that appeared to contradict his version, he declined to comment and repeated his claim.

The court, however, rejected the alleged driver’s surrender plea and directed Shivam Mishra to appear before the Bench, setting the stage for a “who-was-driving” confrontation.

CCTV Evidence Changes Course

The case intensified after CCTV footage from the area surfaced, allegedly showing Shivam Mishra in the driver’s seat moments before and after the crash. The visuals became central to the investigation, undercutting the defence’s “ghost driver” narrative.

The emergence of the footage significantly escalated public pressure and scrutiny over the handling of the case, particularly over the delay in naming the accused in the FIR and the initial inaction by authorities.

Sources and local accounts have suggested attempts were made to reach out to victims in the aftermath of the crash, further fuelling allegations of a cover-up. Families of those injured had demanded transparency and strict action, insisting that the case not be diluted due to the accused’s influence.

The arrest now shifts the focus to custodial interrogation, possible forensic examination of evidence and verification of digital and CCTV records to conclusively establish who was driving at the time of the accident.

With Shivam Mishra now in custody, investigators are expected to examine the sequence of events immediately before the crash, the role of private security personnel seen at the scene, the authenticity of the “driver surrender” affidavit and any potential tampering with evidence or influence on witnesses.

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