Court rejects police remand plea; accused in VIP Road Lamborghini crash walks free on ₹20,000 bail bond
Kanpur: Shivam Mishra, son of local tobacco businessman K K Mishra, was granted bail by a Kanpur court on Thursday—just hours after his arrest in connection with the high-profile Lamborghini crash on VIP Road that left six people injured earlier this week.
Police arrested the 35-year-old from an undisclosed location in the city on Thursday morning, alleging that he was not cooperating with the investigation. He was produced before the court of the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate around 10 am, where police sought 14 days of judicial custody for further interrogation.
However, after hearing arguments from both sides, the court rejected the remand plea and ordered his release upon furnishing a bail bond of ₹20,000.
Court Questions Need for Remand
District Government Counsel (Crime) Dileep Awasthi confirmed that Mishra was released after submitting the bond amount.
Defence counsel Anant Sharma argued that the police application for remand contained discrepancies and failed to mention details regarding the service of notice. The court subsequently declined the request for custodial remand.
Senior defence counsel Naresh Chandra Tripathi contended that the arrest violated Supreme Court guidelines and provisions under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), particularly since the offences cited carry a maximum punishment of less than seven years.
“The police had not recorded valid reasons for arrest,” Tripathi said, adding that bail could have been granted at the police station itself in such cases.
Another defence lawyer, Narendra Yadav, submitted that the investigating officer failed to provide convincing grounds for remand. The court also reportedly questioned procedural lapses during the hearing.
In court, Shivam assured the judge that he would cooperate with the investigation and would neither threaten witnesses nor tamper with evidence.
Dramatic Court Appearance
After undergoing a medical examination, Shivam appeared in court with an intravenous cannula and was seen being supported by police personnel and relatives. He appeared slightly unwell during the proceedings.
Following the order, he exited the crowded court premises amid tight security, wearing a white face mask and surrounded by police personnel, lawyers, and media persons.
Police Version
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Atul Srivastava stated that Shivam was arrested based on specific inputs that he had arrived in Kanpur. Five police teams had been formed to trace him, as he had allegedly failed to appear for questioning multiple times.
A senior police officer, speaking anonymously, claimed that the accused was attempting to evade arrest and had been moving around in an ambulance to avoid detection.
Police maintain that the preliminary investigation, supported by CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts, indicates that the Lamborghini was speeding before it rammed into six people on Sunday. The complaint in the case was filed by Mohd Taufeeq, an 18-year-old e-rickshaw driver injured in the crash.
Disputed Claims Over Driver’s Identity
The FIR initially named an “unidentified driver” but was later amended to include Shivam Mishra after preliminary evidence suggested he was behind the wheel.
However, Shivam’s father has denied the allegation, claiming his son was not driving the vehicle. The defence maintains that a hired driver was at the wheel and that Shivam was unwell at the time. The family has also alleged that the car may have suffered a technical malfunction before the accident.
In a related development, a man named Mohanlal appeared before a court on Wednesday seeking to surrender, claiming he was driving the car. The court rejected his plea after police did not name him as an accused in their report.
Public Scrutiny Intensifies
The incident has sparked widespread public outrage and intense scrutiny of the investigation, with social media users questioning whether preferential treatment was extended to the accused.
Authorities have stated that medical and forensic evaluations, along with further investigation, will determine the exact sequence of events leading to the crash.
