Youth, 25, killed in Kalyan hit-and-run by Mercedes bearing MLA sticker; driver held

A 25-year-old man out on a morning walk was killed in a hit-and-run in the Niki Nagar (Ganpati Chowk) area of Kalyan West in Thane district. A speeding Mercedes hit him and he died on the spot. The incident has caused a stir in the area and in political circles.

The deceased has been identified as Sunil Koli, 25, a resident of Niki Nagar in Kalyan West. He had gone out for his morning walk on Thursday as usual when a speeding Mercedes hit him hard from behind.

The impact was so severe that Sunil was thrown into the air and landed inside an arch by the roadside. He died on the spot. Because the body lay inside the arch, it was initially unclear whether it was an accident, a conspiracy or a natural death, and there was considerable confusion.

Given the seriousness of the matter, a team from Khadakpada police station in Kalyan began investigating at once and went through CCTV footage from the area closely. The footage showed that a speeding Mercedes had struck Sunil. It turned out to be a hit-and-run and not a conspiracy, after which police stepped up the investigation.

Police have arrested the driver, identified as Komil Gaikar, and further legal action is under way. Efforts are also on to find out who was in the vehicle.

The case has become more serious because the Mercedes that hit him had a sticker reading "Vidhan Sabha Sadasya" (MLA). There is much talk in the area. People are asking which MLA the vehicle belonged to, or whether someone had illegally put up the sticker to show off.

Residents are angry. They are asking whether the real information is being concealed under political pressure and whether the police are trying to shield someone.