Scooter jumped lanes: Accused

Businessman Sushil Rajendra Kothari has told the police the victim’s scooter suddenly appeared in front of his car, causing the accident.

Businessman Sushil Rajendra Kothari has told the police the victim’s scooter suddenly appeared in front of his car, causing the accident.

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“In his statement, Kothari has said that the scooter was jumping lanes and there were four to five bikers ahead of his car, racing and jumping lanes,” said investigating officer Police Inspector Paraji Repale. “He said he did not intend to kill but could not do much because the scooter suddenly appeared in front of the car.”

According to the police, Kothari has been blaming two-wheeler riders for the accident but added that officers on patrolling duty on Marine Drive that night had not seen any bikers race when the accident occurred. “We are investigating to find out if Kothari’s claims are true,” Repale said.

The police said the builder’s son, who has spent two nights in the lockup of Azad Maidan police station, has been repentant.

The Malabar Hill resident, who was allegedly under the influence of alcohol, crashed his Honda Accord into an Activa Scooter at 1.30 am on Marine Drive killing the pillion rider.

The Marine Drive police are now waiting for Kothari’s blood test reports to determine the exact alcohol level in his blood stream. The initial report of the breathalyser showed the alcohol level at 499mg/100ml of blood.