Two youths in their 20s were killed after a speeding car rammed into their scooter on the Western Express Highway in Bandra East in the early hours of March 7. Following the incident, on Monday, the deceased’s relatives and acquaintances staged a protest outside Kherwadi police station, demanding that 105  (Punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita be applied against the accused and that all of the car driver’s companions be held accountable.

The deceased were identified as Manav Patel, 21 and Ashish Makwava, 20. Patel’s uncle, Sagar Patel, alleged that the accused and his companions were intoxicated and that the police were trying to shield them. He stated, "When the accident occurred, the car driver and his companions were under the influence of alcohol. They were engaged in car racing. One car went ahead, and the accused Belkar’s car collided with the scooter. The police should file a case against Belkar’s three companions as well, as they were in the car and also intoxicated."

Further, he demanded, "The police should charge all four of them under Section 105 (Punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the BNS. The police are trying to protect them. We have video evidence that clearly shows the car driver was under the influence of alcohol. Even in court, heavy police deployment was seen to protect the accused. We need justice."

Meanwhile, after the accident, Kherwadi police stated that the accused was not intoxicated. Now, Senior Police Inspector Kavidas Jambhale said, "We have sent the accused's blood sample to the forensic lab in Kalina for further examination."

The accused, Siddhesh Belkar (around 20 years old), was driving a car with three companions from Borivali West after a night out when the accident occurred. The crash took place on March 7 at around 1 a.m., when a speeding car traveling from Borivali to South Mumbai lost control near Kherwadi Junction. The driver, Belkar, swerved onto the divider before entering the opposite lane. At the same time, a scooter travelling from Bandra to Andheri was struck by the car. Both the rider and pillion sustained severe head injuries, while Belkar and his companions suffered minor injuries.

The police transported Patel and Makwana to VN Desai Hospital, Santacruz East, where doctors declared both of them dead. The victims were residents of Vile Parle West, while the accused resides in Borivali West.

BJP MLA Parag Alavani raised this issue in the ongoing assembly session. Alavani stated, "Last Friday, a horrific accident took place on the Western Express Highway. Every night, motorcycle and illegal car races are rampant on this stretch. This accident was also part of such a race, which led to the tragic deaths of two young men on the spot. The police have filed a case only against the car driver. However, the deceased’s relatives demand that the driver’s companions also be held responsible for the accident. Therefore, I urge that a case be registered under Section 105 against everyone who was in the car and that all four of them be arrested. These illegal races continue near the airport and pose a serious threat to citizens. I demand increased police security on the Western Express Highway to prevent such incidents in the future."