New Delhi, March 19 The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a plea by the Gujarat government challenging the high court's order granting bail to a 23-year-old man involved in the 2025 Vadodara car crash case, in which one woman was killed and nine others were injured.
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and N V Anjaria refused to interfere with the man's bail, who was allegedly driving under the influence of drugs.
The bench noted that he had served nine months in jail and the act was not deliberate or voluntary.
Advocate Swati Ghildiyal, appearing for the state government, strongly opposed the granting of bail and argued that the accused had taken drugs and caused three collisions.
She said that after the third collision, the man got out of the car and shouted, "Another round, another round." He had absolutely no remorse.
Ghildiyal said that the accused was a danger to society and was a drug addict, and there was another FIR against him under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
She further contended that the high court granted bail only on the grounds that he was 23 years old and that the incident occurred under the influence of drugs.
"How can consuming drugs be held in his favour?" she told the bench, adding that the accused was booked under section 105 part II of the BNS, which carries a punishment of up to 10 years.
The bench, while pointing to the high court's order, said that the man's age of 23 was a relevant consideration, and the act was not deliberate or voluntary.
Ghildiyal said that when one drives a car after consuming drugs, knowledge of the potential danger to human life is implied, and therefore, section 105 BNS is applicable.
However, the top court did not agree with her contention and dismissed the appeal filed by the state government against the December 22 order of the high court granting bail to the accused.
On March 14 last year, a woman was killed and nine others were injured when a speeding car driven by the 23-year-old law student crashed into their two-wheelers in Vadodara city, Gujarat.
The accident occurred near Muktanand crossroads in the Karelibaug area, following which the driver, Rakshit Ravish Chorasiya, was arrested.
The deceased woman was identified as Hemali Patel, who was riding her scooter at the time of the accident.
Chorasiya, who originally hails from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, was a law student living in a PG accommodation in the city.
Chorasiya, who appeared incoherent after the accident, kept shouting, "Another round? Another round?" A video shows Chorasiya being attacked by bystanders, who subsequently handed him over to the police.
In the CCTV footage accessed by the media, the speeding car can be seen hitting two scooters, knocking down the riders and dragging them along before coming to a halt.
