22-05-2025
Cop's son held after 8 days for hit-run that left footballer critical
Ahmedabad: A cop's son was caught by the city traffic police on Thursday for driving his Mercedes at speed and hitting two young footballers on May 14 near the Palladium Ahmedabad mall flyover.
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One of those footballers remains in a critical condition eight days after being hit by the car on the flyover.
The driver, Vijay Desai, son of a serving police head constable of Ahmedabad Rural police, Vaghji Desai, was arrested after a delayed investigation that has drawn public criticism. The incident occurred around 12.30am on May 14 near the mall. Andre Rahul Bhatia, a former St Xavier's football team captain, was hit from behind while riding his two-wheeler.
The car did not stop. Bhatia was left unconscious on the road, suffering a brain haemorrhage, fractures, and serious facial injuries.
He is currently on ventilator support in a private hospital's ICU.
Bhatia's family has launched a crowdfunding campaign seeking Rs 30 lakh for his treatment, citing financial distress. His sister has also appealed for help through online platforms. Despite the severity of the case, it took police eight days to make the arrest.
Investigators recovered a broken Mercedes logo at the crash site and contacted the manufacturer's Mumbai office. That led them to the original car owner, who confirmed selling the vehicle three months ago to Vijay Desai for Rs 18.5 lakh.
Phone location data placed Vijay Desai at the scene of the crash, prompting police to arrest him.
The delayed arrest has led to concerns about alleged preferential treatment due to the accused's family background. Inspector R V Vinchhi of SG-1 traffic division said that Vijay was arrested after collecting evidence against him, including phone location data.
