A month after a horrific car crash in Vadodara that claimed a woman’s life and injured seven others, a forensic report has confirmed that the driver, Rakshit Chaurasia, was under the influence of marijuana during the incident. The 23-year-old is a fourth-year law student at Maharaja Sayajirao University and hails from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
The late-night crash occurred around 12:30 am on March 13, 2025 near Amrapali Chaar Rasta in the city’s Karelibaug area. Chaurasia’s car rammed into multiple two-wheelers, resulting in the death of 38-year-old Hemali Patel and leaving several others injured. The vehicle, a Volkswagen Virtus, belonged to his friend Pranshu Chauhan, who was also present in the car along with a third occupant, Suresh Bharwad.
Disturbing Visuals Surfaces Online
Following the crash, disturbing footage emerged online, showing Chaurasia, clad in a black T-shirt, walking dazed on the road, shouting “another round” and chanting “Om Namah Shivay.” Eyewitnesses said he appeared disoriented and was eventually restrained by locals before police arrived.
Initially, Chaurasia claimed that he was neither drunk nor high and blamed the accident on an airbag malfunction after hitting a pothole. However, the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Gandhinagar detected traces of marijuana in the blood samples of all three men. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 4), Panna Momaya, confirmed that separate charges under the NDPS Act were added, along with Section 185 of the Motor Vehicles Act for driving under the influence of drugs.
Police Reveals Details
Police sources revealed that the trio had met at Bharwad’s home before heading out. While Chauhan has been arrested, Bharwad is expected to be taken into custody soon. Chaurasia was arrested a day after the incident and is currently lodged at Vadodara Central Jail.
In addition to the NDPS charges, Chaurasia faces accusations of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, rash driving, and endangering public safety. The impact of the crash was so severe that several victims were thrown into the air, as captured by CCTV footage. Four of the injured victims remain hospitalised.
The investigation is ongoing as authorities review more evidence, including digital trails and eyewitnesses accounts
