Mumbai: DUI cases up six-fold

Traffic department data shows that drunken driving cases in the city surged sixfold from January to September this year A total of 6762 cases were registered in 2024 compared to 1217 during the same period last year Several major drunkendriving incidents this year have resulted in fatalities involving pedestrians and other driversBetween 2007 and 2009 traffic police launched a massive crackdown on drunken driving booking 36000 people and securing 31000 convictions Of those 17000 were imprisoned and 32000 had their licences suspended The crackdown had a significant impact deterring citizens from driving under the influenceVishakh PatelHowever a decadeandahalf later Mumbairsquos Traffic Police reports a sharp rise in such cases once again According to the police there has been a sharp rise in drunken driving cases as they have intensified screenings through regular bandobasts ldquoThere are regular bandobasts at night and we frequently change locations to catch those involved in crime Vehicles are checked regularly Special drives have been conducted during festivals and New Yearrdquo a police official saidThe traffic police also take the alleged offenders to the nearest police station to report the incident ldquoOnce we apprehend any accused we first take them to the nearest police station and action is then taken according to the law Moreover we request people not to drink and driverdquo the official addedWhile speaking with midday M Raamkumar additional commissioner of the Traffic Department said that they are vigilant throughout the city to curb instances of drinking and driving ldquoOur officials have been monitoring the city there is a rise in cases due to regular checkpoints in the cityrdquo he saidRecent incidentsOne highprofile case was the Worli hitandrun on July 7 Mihir Shah allegedly ran over Kaveri Nakhwa leading to her death Police said Shah accompanied by his driver Rajrishi Bidawat was drunk at the time ldquoShah took the BMW from Marine Drive and near Atria Mall in Worli hit a couple on a twowheeler Pradeep Nakhwa sustained injuries while Kaveri was dragged for up to 3 kilometres Bidawat then took control of the car and ran over her while making a Uturnrdquo police saidVishakh Patel and his damaged car PicsRajesh GuptaShah was arrested on July 9 but his blood tests came back negative for alcohol and he remains in judicial custody In another incident on August 25 police arrested Vishakh Patel 27 after a collision that killed his friend Dr Vibhuti Khatri a dentist from Chembur Patelrsquos blood tested positive for alcoholAccording to Vikhroli police Patel initially blamed a container truck for the accident claiming it caused the collision However investigations revealed that Patel was driving under the influence ldquoVishakh tried to mislead the investigation but medical tests and technical evidence revealed the truthrdquo police said Patel had been driving Dr Khatri home when his car collided with another vehicle causing her severe injuries She was rushed to Lilavati hospital but later died from her injuries Police charged Patel with negligence after confirming his intoxicationThe legal alcohol limit in India is 003 per cent but Patelrsquos blood alcohol level was 0145 per cent He remains in judicial custody A family member of Dr Khatri expressed concerns that Patel would be released on bail ldquoHe will get out on bail We just want justice Khatri told him not to drive as he was drunk but he didnrsquot listen and the accident happened He has good contacts and will likely get bailrdquo the family member told middayIn a similar incident on July 22 an Audi driver collided headon with an autorickshaw on Dumping Road in Mulund West causing a chainreaction crash The driver fled the scene leaving behind his mobile phone Four people were injured and later released from the hospitalSenior Police Inspector Ajay Joshi said the accused Vijay Dattarey Gore 43 fled without assisting the injured ldquoWe traced the car to Gore who was hiding at his sisterrsquos home He was detained and arrested His blood tests were positive for alcohol and although he applied for bail it was rejected by the sessions court He has now approached the high courtrdquo Joshi added