Vadodara Crash Accused Insisted on Driving Before Deadly Accident, CCTV Reveals

Vadodara- New CCTV footage has revealed that Rakshit Chaurasia, the accused in the Vadodara car crash that claimed one life and injured seven others, may have insisted on driving the vehicle moments before the fatal incident.

Chaurasia, a 23-year-old law student at MS University, Vadodara, was arrested and charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder after the Volkswagen Virtus he drove rammed into three vehicles, killing 35-year-old Hemali Patel on the spot.

The footage shows Rakshit and his friend Suresh arriving at Suresh’s house on a scooter around 10:30 pm on Thursday. About 15 minutes later, their friend Pranshu Chauhan arrives in the sedan. At 11:25 pm, Rakshit and Pranshu are seen heading to the car, with Pranshu initially taking the driver’s seat. However, an apparent conversation follows, after which Pranshu shifts to the passenger seat, indicating that Rakshit insisted on driving.

Shortly after, the car crashed. A video taken post-accident shows the vehicle with a damaged front and deployed airbags. Pranshu can be heard calling Rakshit “mad” before fleeing the scene. He remains on the run, with police actively searching for him.

Rakshit claims he was neither drunk nor speeding, blaming the airbags for obstructing his vision and causing the crash. “There was a pothole, and the car touched another vehicle, triggering the airbags. Our vision was hampered, and the car went out of control,” he told the media.

The incident has sparked outrage, with victims demanding stricter actions against reckless driving. “Fines aren’t enough. Only strict action will make people realize the gravity of their actions,” said Vikas Kevlani, one of the injured.

Police Commissioner Narasimha Komar confirmed that Rakshit and Pranshu switched seats, adding that whether Rakshit insisted on driving remains under investigation.