Mentally unstable man steals car, injures two in Mumbai

The 35-year-old was chased and stopped by the injured youngsters’ friends; police arrive at the spot, take him to hospital after realising he is unwell.

A car theft, hit-and-run and chase – Carter Road in Bandra witnessed high drama on Tuesday morning.

The white Qualis that the man broke into. (HT Photo)

It all started when a 35-year-old man spotted a white Qualis parked at Khar Danda. He broke open the lock, got the vehicle started and started to drive towards Carter Road, according to the police. “Speeding, he rammed into two youngsters who were with their friends and continued to head towards Bandra,” said a police officer.

While two friends of the injured followed him on their bikes, the police informed their counterpart in Bandra about the incident. The duo stopped him and confronted him. “They had a heated argument, with the two tearing the 35-year-old’s shirt,” said a police source.

The police reached the spot in time and took the man to Khar police station. “He was taking different names and his speech was unclear. He remembered just one number, which we noted down,” said the officer.

The number happened to be of his relative, who told the police that the 35-year-old was being treated for a mental illness. They then got him admitted to Sion hospital. Taking note of his condition, the police have withheld his name.

During the investigation, the police learnt the man went missing from his home in Rajasthan a week ago. He left the state on a bike, which he dropped into a river midway. They suspect he took a train to Gujarat, from where he managed to reach Mumbai. His family members reached Mumbai on Tuesday and met him at the hospital.

The owner of the vehicle approached the police on Tuesday, and was informed of the incident. The police have filed a case of rash driving.