Pedestrian hit for trying to stop brawl

A 35-year-old employee of a shipping company fell prey to road rage and is battling for his life after he was assaulted by an inebriated motorist at Kalina in Santacruz (East) on Thursday morning.

A 35-year-old employee of a shipping company fell prey to road rage and is battling for his life after he was assaulted by an inebriated motorist at Kalina in Santacruz (East) on Thursday morning.

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According to the police, the 35-year-old accused, Indrajit Sawant, is a resident of Sundar Nagar in the Kalina area. The incident occurred at 6.40am when he was driving towards Kurla from his residence in a Chevrolet Optra in an inebriated condition.

Hrishi Gandhi, after collecting his Maruti Suzuki from a nearby service centre, was travelling in the same direction as Sawant ran into his vehicle from the rear on CST Road in Kalina.

The two got into an argument, after which Sawant began hurling obscenities at Gandhi and started beating him with fists and blows, the police said.

While a crowd gathered around the duo, Sanjay Jaiswal, who was standing nearby with his brother-in-law Sanjay Vishwakarma, approached them. “Jaiswal tried to convince Sawant against assaulting Gandhi, but an inebriated Sawant took out a baseball bat from his car and hit him on the head, causing him to fall unconscious,” said Rajendra Pardesi, senior inspector, Vakola police station.

The crowd began thrashing Sawant, and informed the police. Jaiswal was taken to a nearby clinic and then shifted to Nanavati hospital, while Sawant was arrested.

“My car suffered the most damage and yet I tried to pacify him, but he started abusing me," said Hrishi Gandhi, a 35-year-old employee with a financial institution.

“Sawant has been held under section 307 of the Indian Penal Code for attempt to murder. He was remanded in police custody till June 12,” Pardesi said.

The police said that Sawant’s preliminary medical reports confirmed that he was under the influence of alcohol.

Meanwhile, Jaiswal is fighting for life. “We have been trying to record his statement, but the doctors have advised against it as he is in a critical condition,” Pardesi said.