Mumbai:
The Malabar Hill resident Sushil Kothari who was involved in a drunken driving accident on Marine Drive said "I never intended to kill anybody; I regret whatever happened."
On Wednesday, clad in a red tee-shirt and blue jeans, he sat in the detention room, expressing regret at what had happened.
The 30-year-old, was at the wheel of his Honda Accord, rammed his car into a bike near Islam Gymkhana.
While 60-year-old Grant Road resident Abdul Zalil, who was riding the Activa, sustained grievous injuries and has been admitted to hospital, the pillion rider, Julfekar Ahmed Khureshi (49), died on the spot.
Kothari spoke to MiD DAY after he was taken from Malabar Hill police station to the lock-up in Gamdevi.
Kothari told MiD DAY, "I got drunk because I was extremely happy. A few hours earlier, I had met my friends after a long time."
Kothari has recently returned from a business trip abroad and was meeting his friends after long. A packet of condoms was found on the floor of the car.
"My son has committed a mistake, but he is no criminal. Sushil is not a habitual drinker," said Kothari's father Rajendra who reached the police station early morning after the police informed the family about the incident.
"I appeal with folded hands and apologise to the families of the deceased and the injured. I will do all I can to help them,"added Rajendra.
"He was on his way home from a party he had hosted at Hotel Intercontinental, Marine Drive," said police sources. "Kothari's medical report has revealed that he was under the influence of alcohol. He had consumed vodka and beer at the hotel."
While Kothari was initially taken to Nair Hospital, Mumbai Central for a medical examination, the check-up was later done at JJ Hospital due to certain technical problems at Nair Hospital.
"After Kothari's car collided with the bike, he quickly drove away from the spot as a few passersby witnessed the accident," said a police official. "As he drove away to escape the public's wrath, one of the tyres of his car went flat about half a kilometre away. Just as he was nearing his home, he lost control of the car once again and rammed into three vehicles parked near the Governor's bungalow."
The police official said that Kothari's car was, by then, badly damaged. "He was lucky to have survived without any injury. But people who happened to be around informed the police and Kothari was arrested," the official added.
Officials of the Malabar Hill police station, who arrested Kothari, produced him in Girgaum court on Wednesday. He was granted bail on a surety of Rs 5,000.
However, he was later arrested by officials of the Marine Drive police, under whose jurisdiction, the accident took place.
The Marine Drive police have slapped a charge of culpable homicide on Kothari, besides other sections under the Indian Penal Code. After he is interrogated by Malabar Hill police station officials, the Marine Drive police will interrogate him again.
Kothari will be produced in Killa court on Thursday. "We have arrested Kothari and will produce him in court tomorrow," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (zone 1) Cherring Dorjee.