How a Mercedes logo led to the arrest of accused in hit-and-run case, which left footballer critically injured in Ahmedabad

Indian Express

22-05-2025

On the intervening night of May 14 and 15, a Mercedes car rammed into a two-wheeler before fleeing from the spot, leaving a 27-year-old state-level football player severely injured and in need of ventilator support at a hospital in Ahmedabad.
Despite the incident leading to much outrage, the accused driver remained elusive for a week. However, it was the luxury car's logo, which had fallen down during the impact, that helped the police trace down the accused. The accused, Vijay Vaghji Desai, turned out to be the son of a Head Constable posted with Ahmedabad Police. Desai was arrested on Thursday and will be produced in court on Friday.
The footballer, Andrerahul Raymond Bhatia, continues to fight for his life at the hospital. 'He has not regained consciousness since the incident and continues to be in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Apollo Hospital,' his cousin said.
A friend of Bhatia, who was with him at the time of the incident and later filed the complaint in the matter, stated in the FIR that on the intervening night of May 14 and 15, at 11.45 pm, they were going home from a restaurant in Bodakdev. Around 12 am, they were on the flyover near Palladium mall over Zydus crossroads when a black sedan, allegedly being driven at a high speed, hit Bhatia's two-wheeler from behind, due to which he fell down and suffered head injuries. According to a social media post by his sister, Bhatia has suffered a skull fracture, brain haemorrhage, and severe lacerations to his face.
As a crowd gathered at the spot, another two-wheeler rider slammed into the group of people, injuring several more people. In the melee that ensued, the Mercedes driver fled from the spot.
The injured people were rushed to Sola Civil Hospital. Bhatia was later moved to Apollo Hospital in Bhat.
Meanwhile, on the basis of the Mercedes log that had dropped during the accident, police began searching for the hit-and-run accused.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Traffic (West) Neeta Desai told mediapersons, 'The Mercedes logo fell down at the spot. The police investigated with the company and found that this particular logo had been on a car owned by an Ahmedabad resident. It turned out that this person had sold the car to Vijay in March.'
Based on this revelation, along with CCTV images and Call Detail Records (CDR), it became clear that it was Vijay who was driving the car, said police.
DCP Desai further said, 'Vijay was detained at 12 pm on May 22 after CCTV footage confirmed that he was driving the car. He was subsequently placed under arrest.'
Vijay has been booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 281 (rash driving), 125a (act endangering life or personal safety), 125b (act endangering life or personal safety due to negligence), as well as under sections 177, 184, and 134b of the Motor Vehicles Act.
Bhatia's family members, meanwhile, are trying to raise funds for his treatment through online donation platforms. Bhatia has played in the Santosh Trophy and Subroto Cup, among other tournaments.
Bhatia's family runs a store in Ahmedabad. His mother is a retired teacher.