Woman driving BMW held for trying to run over traffic constable in Vile Parle, freed on cash bail

Police in Mumbai have arrested a woman driving a BMW in Vile Parle West on Friday night. She is accused of trying to run over a traffic constable on duty after a minor collision with a Maruti WagonR at Sangeet Mahabharati junction. The woman has been identified by police as Juhi Mehta. She is alleged to have threatened the constable and driven the car towards him despite his repeatedly and clearly asking her to stop.

Police said Mehta is the chief operating officer of a Mumbai company that works in creator-focused digital media and content commerce. The incident took place on October 30, between about 8.15 pm and 8.30 pm. Constable Prashant Gokul Hake of the Santacruz traffic division was then on duty outside the Pratiksha bungalow on NS Road No. 10.

A police officer said: "The BMW and the Maruti WagonR had a minor collision. After that both cars were left standing in the middle of the road and traffic stopped. A crowd soon gathered around the vehicles. Constable Hake, who was on duty nearby, reached the spot and asked both drivers to park their cars at the side of the road."

A video shows the woman driving the BMW allegedly refusing to follow the constable's instruction. According to the police officer, "Hake kept saying, 'Madam, stop the car and step out', and each time she replied, 'How much money do you want?'" In the video Hake is seen standing in front of the BMW, while the woman allegedly appears to try to drive the car at him.

On Constable Hake's complaint, Juhu police have registered an FIR against Mehta. Sections 132, 125 and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) have been invoked. These relate, respectively, to assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from his duty, acts endangering the life or personal safety of others, and criminal intimidation. A case under Section 184 of the Motor Vehicles Act, for dangerous driving, has also been registered.

A senior police officer confirmed that Mehta was arrested in the case and has now been released on cash bail. A Juhu police officer said: "We are examining CCTV footage from the area to understand the full sequence of events."

In his statement to police, Hake alleged that the woman also threatened to implicate him in a false case. According to his statement, she said: "I am very rich, I have a lot of connections. I will get you kidnapped and framed in a case involving ladies." He also said the woman kept driving forward despite being told to stop. Repeated attempts were made to contact Mehta in connection with the case, but she did not respond.