The footage before the tragic accident shows Chaurasia, a Prayagraj native and law student at MS University in Vadodara, asking his friend Pranshu Chauhan to move to the seat next to the driver.
Chaurasia’s Volkswagen Virtus sedan reportedly collided with other vehicles in Gujarat’s Vadodara, killing a woman and seriously injuring seven others. The 23-year-old has been arrested and charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
The woman who died in the accident was identified as Hemali Patel. She was riding her scooter when the car hit her vehicle from behind. The remaining victims were sent to a local hospital for treatment after suffering severe injuries.
Watch the video footage here:
आज गाड़ी तेरा भाई चलाएगा….! वडोदरा हिट एंड रन केस से ठीक पहले की CCTV फुटेज।
वीडियो 1: सुरेश भारवाड़ के साथ रक्षित चौरसिया।वीडियो 2: प्रांशु चौहान के रक्षित चौहान। #vadodaraaccident #Vadodara #Gujarat #RakshitChaurasia pic.twitter.com/rhTtYM2nH1
— Achlendra Kr. Katiyar (@achlendra) March 16, 2025
One of the CCTV footages shows Chaurasiya riding a scooter with his friend Suresh to the latter’s house. The two arrived at Suresh’s house around 10.30 pm on Thursday and Chaurasiya parked the scooter. He was also seen drinking something from a bottle in his hand. The two then went inside.
A separate footage showed Pranshu Chauhan, who was in the car during the crash, arriving at Suresh’s residence in a black sedan approximately 15 minutes later. After parking the car in a neighbouring parking space, Chauhan also went inside the house. Chaurasiya and Chauhan appeared to be walking down and getting into the car around 11:25 pm.
Chaurasiya reportedly approached his friend as he took the wheel. Police confirmed that Chaurasiya took over the wheel, and Chauhan subsequently moved to the passenger seat. When asked if Chaurasiya had demanded the seat swap, Police Commissioner Narasimha Komar said it was under investigation.
The vehicle collided with several two-wheelers around 12:30 pm on Friday. He was taken into custody by police following the collision.
A video recorded by an eyewitness showed the airbags deployed and the front of the car damaged. Chaurasia tried to hold Chauhan while he said ‘hato tum’ in the video. Chauhan exclaimed, “Pagal hai (he is mad)” as he got out of the car.
Chaurasia then began yelling “Another round” “Nikita” and “Om Namah Shivay,” before being caught by the spectators. Authorities are looking for Chauhan, who is currently on the run.
(Edited by : Sudarsanan Mani)
