In a chilling update to the Vadodara crash that claimed the life of a woman and injured seven others last month, the accused, Rakshit Chaurasia, was found to be driving under the influence of drugs. The revelation came after the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Gandhinagar tested the blood samples of Chaurasia and his two friends, confirming the presence of marijuana.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 4), Panna Momaya, confirmed the findings on Friday. “We received the result of the three blood samples today, which showed positive for drugs. They were driving the car after smoking marijuana. We have arrested Rakshit Chaurasia’s co-passenger and the third accused will be arrested soon,” she said.
Alongside Chaurasia, his co-passenger Praanshu Chauhan and another friend, Suresh Bharwad—both present in the car during the accident—also tested positive for drug use. While Chauhan is under arrest and Chaurasia remains in Vadodara Central Jail, Bharwad is currently absconding.
The crash occurred on March 13 at the Amrapali Chaar Rasta junction in Karelibag, a busy area of Vadodara. Chaurasia, a 23-year-old law student at Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, was behind the wheel of a Volkswagen Virtus when it rammed into three vehicles, killing Hemali Patel and injuring seven others. A viral video from the scene showed Chaurasia behaving erratically, chanting “Om Namah Shivay!” and shouting, “Another round, another round!”
Following the crash, Chaurasia was arrested and charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Now, with the FSL report confirming drug use, police have also invoked the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, and Section 185 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, which criminalises driving under the influence of intoxicants.
Chaurasia had earlier denied being intoxicated or speeding. In a statement, he said, “We were overtaking a scooter and turned right when we hit a pothole. The car touched another vehicle, and the airbag deployed, impairing my vision and causing the car to go out of control… I was told that a woman died and others were injured. I want to meet the victims’ families — it is my fault.”