Worli Hit-And-Run: Illegal Portion of Tapas Bar Where Mihir Shah Spent Hours Demolished

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Wednesday demolished illegal structures at a Juhu bar where Mihir Shah, son of Shiv Sena leader Rajesh Shah, consumed alcohol before fatally crashing his BMW into a two-wheeler in Worli three days ago, killing a a 45-year-old woman and injuring her husband. This came just 24 hours after Excise Department officials sealed the property. 

The Vice-Global Tapas Bar served alcohol to 24-year-old Shah, who is below the legal drinking age, late Saturday and early Sunday. This was shortly before a collision involving the BMW he was driving.

In addition to serving alcohol to underage individuals, the bar was sealed for operating without a valid license and for unauthorized construction on its premises. The bulldozer action was taken under relevant provisions of the Bombay Foreign Liquor Rules, 1953.

Earlier on Tuesday evening, Mumbai Police arrested the absconding accused who was untraceable for over 72 hours and was on the run after the horrific incident. Mihir Shah had managed to evade the police since Sunday morning, was arrested from Virar near Mumbai, a senior police official said.

His mother and two sisters were brought to Mumbai for questioning from Shahapur in Thane district. They are being quizzed along with 10 others, the official added.  The police stated that Mihir Shah's politician father Rajesh Shah actively ensured his son's escape and had plans to tow away the BMW car after the accident.

Preliminary investigations showed that the luxury car driven by Mihir rammed into a two-wheeler from behind in the Worli area on Sunday morning, resulting in the death of Kaveri Nakhwa (45), who was riding pillion, while her husband Pradeep survived with injuries.

Kaveri Nakhwa was dragged for around 1.5 km by the speeding car before Mihir pulled it over, swapped the seat with his driver, and fled in another vehicle, according to police.

Following the crash, Mumbai Police formed 11 teams and enlisted the Crime Branch to apprehend Mihir. A Look Out Circular (LOC) had also been issued against him, the official said.

Chilling details of the accident emerged in CCTV footage produced by police in the court on Monday.

The footage shows Kaveri Nakhwa being dragged by the BMW car for 1.5 kilometres before the car stopped. Mihir and Bidawat pulled the woman off the bonnet, placed her on the road, and swapped seats. While reversing the car, Bidawat ran over the victim before fleeing.

"After she was dragged from Worli, Mihir and Bidawat stopped the car just before BWSL and removed the woman who had got entangled in the vehicle's tyre. Bidawat then took the driver's seat and ran the car over the victim while reversing. They then fled," an official said.