Kanpur crash case: ‘Driver’ Mohan denies Shivam at wheel, police maintain tobacco baron's son was driving

The investigation into Kanpur’s high-profile Lamborghini crash saw a fresh development on Wednesday after a man claiming to be the vehicle’s designated driver said he — and not tobacco baron K K Mishra’s son Shivam Mishra — was driving at the time of the accident on VIP Road.

Police, however, reiterated that available evidence clearly points to Shivam Mishra being behind the wheel.

Mohan, who identified himself as the designated driver, told reporters outside a local court that he lost control of the luxury sports car after Shivam, seated next to him, allegedly suffered a seizure moments before the crash.

"I was driving the car when the accident happened. Suddenly, he had a seizure and fell on me. I got scared and was trying to hold him with one hand. The car hit a three-wheeler, climbed the divider and stopped," he said.

Mohan further stated that he was unable to immediately step out of the vehicle because of its automatic locking system.

"I shifted him to the driver's seat and stepped outside. The glass was later broken," he added.

However, the Gwaltoli police, in a report submitted to the court, did not list him as an accused. Based on this, the court declined to accept his surrender and directed the police station to submit a detailed report.

One of the injured, 18-year-old e-rickshaw driver Mohd Taufeeq, later filed an FIR in connection with the incident.

According to the defence, Taufeeq has since decided not to pursue legal action.

Dharmendra Singh “Dharmu”, counsel for Shivam Mishra, claimed on Wednesday that Taufeeq had reached a mutual settlement and no longer wished to proceed with the case.

Dharmu also alleged that Mohan was driving the car at the time and had compensated Taufeeq for medical expenses and other losses.

Although the SHO was later stripped of his charge and sent to lines on Wednesday, senior police officials declined to comment on the alleged settlement.

"A driver and Shivam were in the car, and driver Mohan was at the wheel instead of Shivam," he said earlier.

However, K K Mishra later altered his version, stating that he was unsure who was driving and that the matter should be probed thoroughly.

"When the driver checked on him, the car slowed and an autorickshaw hit it," he said, adding that security personnel travelling in a separate SUV broke the window to rescue his son.

The family has maintained that Shivam suffers from epilepsy and is undergoing treatment in Delhi. They have also denied allegations of speeding or intoxication.

Police Commissioner Raghubir Lal told PTI that CCTV footage, eyewitness testimonies and other material evidence indicate that Shivam Mishra was driving the car at the time of the crash.

Senior officers also cited videos purportedly showing bystanders pulling a man believed to be Shivam from the driver’s seat immediately after the collision.

(With inputs from news agency PTI)