Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Nov 6: A two-and-a-half-year-old boy riding a tricycle with his mother during an evening stroll died after an SUV hit them in Borivli West late Wednesday night. The motorist, identified as Samir Parekh, a 48-year-old doctor, was arrested by Borivli police on the same day.

The incident took place around 9.45 pm on Chandavarkar Road when the child, Krishiv Mandavia, was returning home with his mother, Riddhi. As they reached Om Shanti Chowk, Parekh's SUV allegedly rammed into the mother and son.

According to the police remand application, the impact threw Riddhi to the ground, while Krishiv was dragged further by the vehicle. The SUV subsequently hit another car passing nearby. Police said the child became trapped between the two vehicles and sustained grievous injuries.

"Riddhi was overcome with shock," a relative said.

Parekh, with the assistance of passersby, took the injured child to a nearby nursing home. However, doctors advised that he be shifted to Babasaheb Ambedkar Hospital in Kandivli, where he was declared dead.

The incident plunged the neighbourhood into grief on Thursday, as relatives and well-wishers visited the Mandavia family to offer their condolences.

"Krishiv was an only child. He lived with his parents and grandparents, who are inconsolable. How could the motorist drive so rashly in a residential neighbourhood?" a relative asked.

A neighbour said the child and his mother regularly went out for evening strolls. Borivli police have seized Parekh's SUV as well as the other car involved in the collision.

On Thursday, police produced Parekh before the Borivli magistrate court and sought two days of custody to investigate whether the road accident was intentional or accidental.

However, the court questioned the police for invoking bailable sections in the case. "You have applied bailable sections. Is the police trying to help the accused?" magistrate Shivdatt Patil remarked.

The court also issued a notice to investigating officer Sagar Pawar.

Parekh's lawyer, Pradeep Kumar Vishwakarma, said his client had rushed the injured child to the hospital and maintained that all allegations levelled against him were untrue.

Police have registered charges relating to negligence and rash driving under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Motor Vehicles Act against Parekh.