Drunk Porsche driver rams into biker

Intoxicated 24-yr-old slammed his speeding luxury car into a delivery boy's bike, let off on bail; biker critical

Drunk Porsche driver rams into biker

Intoxicated 24-yr-old slammed his speeding luxury car into a delivery boy's bike, let off on bail; biker critical

A 24-year-old, under the influence of alcohol, slammed his speeding Porsche Panamera into a motorcycle near the Police Gymkhana on Marine Drive in the wee hours of Monday, leaving the biker critically injured before trying to escape from the scene at Marine Drive last morning. He was granted bail soon after being arrested.

Desparate bid: One of the wheels of the Porsche burst after the
accident but the driver tried to flee on three wheels. Pic/Bipin Kokate

Ankesh Shahra tried to drive away from the spot on three wheels, as one of the tyres burst instantly on impact after the accident. But the cops caught him near Oval Maidan, about two kilometres from the crime scene.

The incident took place around 3 am when a delivery boy from Zaffran restaurant, Ainul Haq (25), was heading to the night joint. The speeding Porsche (registration number: HR 26 BH 1000), valued around Rs 2 crore, slammed into his bike with a thud. Haq has sustained grave injuries on the forehead, leg and abdomen, and is currently recuperating at Bombay Hospital after he was operated upon. He was still inside the operation theatre at the time of going to press.

Drunk driving
An eyewitness, Mohammed Hanif, who chased Ankesh on his bike when he was trying to scoot away, said that the traction of the bust wheel's rim made a scraping, screeching noise as it trundled on the road in the silent wee hours. Another eyewitness, Haroon, said there was reason to believe the car's driver was drunk. "It could be one of the main reasons why he tried to flee from the spot," he said. While both the two eyewitnesses followed the fleeing driver, Ankesh sped in the direction of Churchgate before veering towards Oval Maidan. As the eyewitnesses caught up with him, a posse on policemen on night patrol intercepted the Porsche.

'Rich boy'
Initial investigations have indicated Ankesh is the son of Dinesh Shahra, managing director, Ruchi Soya Industries Limited (Ruchi). He is a resident of South Mumbai. Ankesh has been charged with rash driving and drunken driving following a medical examination at GT Hospital soon after he was apprehended.

"Haq was immediately taken to GT Hospital, but as his health was critical, he was shifted to Bombay Hospital this morning. The driver of the car rammed into the bike, and therefore we hold him responsible. We don't care if he is rich," said Munib Birya, owner of Zaffran. "The accident occurred around 3.30 am last night, when the speeding Porsche rammed into the delivery boy's bike. Medical reports point to the fact that he was under the influence of liquor."

"The boy has been let off on bail, but has been booked under Sections 279 and 338 of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 185 and 134 (I and II) of the Motor Vehicle Act," said Police Sub-Inspector A Mahadik of Marine Lines Police Station.