New Delhi, February 16 In a voice choked with grief and anger, a single mother who raised her only child said "reckless stunts for social media fame" -- what she called a "fun reel" -- had not only crushed her 23-year-old son but also every dream she had built around him.
Standing amidst his pictures and medals in her son's bedroom, Inna Makan pointed to motivational quotes still written on the wall -- "Obsession will always beat talent" and "Discipline in dreams."
"My son believed in hard work, not shortcuts," Makan told
She said that someone else's "fun reel" had taken the life and all the dreams she had for her child.
Sahil, a final-year BBA student, was on his way to the office on February 3 when a Scorpio N SUV, allegedly being driven by a 17-year-old boy with his sister sitting next to him, collided head-on with Sahil's motorcycle coming from the opposite direction, killing him instantly. The SUV later also collided with a stationary taxi, injuring its driver.
"My son's office was just two minutes away from the spot where he met with the accident," Makan said, adding that he was about to go abroad within a few months.
She said Sahil was a student of St Joseph's College in Nainital and had big ambitions.
"My son was very hardworking and wanted to work abroad. He studied in a private college in Nainital. He was a very good athlete," she said, her voice breaking. "The reckless stunt took my child's life. They must be strictly punished."
A clip of the stunt surfaced on the internet, showing the SUV taking a turn and then speeding down a straight road without a divider. About 12 seconds into the clip, the car collides head-on with Sahil's motorcycle.
Police had said that a case was registered at the Dwarka South Police Station under sections 281 (rash driving), 106(1) (causing death by negligence) and 125(a) (act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the Motor Vehicles Act. The accident was reported at 11.57 am near Lal Bahadur Shastri College on February 3.
The SUV driver, a 17-year-old boy, was found to be driving without a driving license and was apprehended. He was produced before the Juvenile Justice Board before being granted interim bail on February 10, as he is a Class 10 student appearing for exams.
Sahil's mother claimed she had heard that the teen's father is a transporter and the SUV has multiple traffic violations against it. "There are 13 challans in Delhi and a few in UP," she alleged.
She also said that she will fight for justice for her son. "I won't accept this situation. Law and order is for the public," she said. Calling it more than an accident, she said that this cannot be simply called an accident. "This is criminal activity."
She alleged that the accused was speeding for reels. "My son was going to build a life abroad. He was disciplined. I will not step back," she said.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka) Ankit Singh said that following the accident, the minor accused was apprehended and produced before the Juvenile Justice Board.
The board passed the order to send him to an observation home on the same day. His father was also bound down immediately. All the legal proceedings are being carried out.
"We are also checking if the boy or his sister was making reels during the accident," the DPC said.