NEW DELHI, Feb 12: Shivam Mishra, son of Kanpur-based tobacco magnate K K Mishra, was granted bail on Thursday, just hours after his arrest in connection with a high-profile Lamborghini crash on VIP Road that left six people injured.
Police had produced the 35-year-old before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate around 10 am, seeking 14 days’ judicial custody for further interrogation.
The court, however, rejected the remand plea, noting procedural discrepancies and a lack of justification for extended custody, and released him on a Rs 20,000 personal bond.
Senior defence counsel Naresh Chandra Tripathi argued that the arrest violated Supreme Court guidelines and provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), emphasizing that the alleged offences carry a maximum punishment of less than seven years.
Tripathi and other lawyers alleged police acted under government pressure and failed to provide valid reasons for the arrest.
Mishra assured the court he would cooperate with the investigation, refrain from threatening witnesses, and avoid tampering with evidence.
The crash, which occurred on Sunday, involved a Lamborghini allegedly driven by Mishra that hit six people on VIP Road, triggering public outrage and media attention
Police claim CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts confirm Mishra was driving, while his family insists he was unwell, suffering a medical episode, and that a hired driver may have been behind the wheel.
Mishra had reportedly been hospitalized in Delhi prior to the incident.
During proceedings, the court scrutinized the police for procedural lapses in the arrest and remand request.
The court also questioned the necessity of producing Mishra before a magistrate, given the alleged offences carried punishments under seven years, which could have warranted bail at the police station.
The case has drawn nationwide attention, with social media users alleging preferential treatment and delayed police action.
Authorities have emphasized ongoing investigations, including medical, forensic, and CCTV analyses, to determine accountability.
Questions over the actual driver, Mishra’s health at the time, and potential technical issues with the vehicle remain central to the inquiry, ensuring the high-profile case will continue to be closely monitored. (PTI)
