Mumbai, August 28: Ganpati celebrations ended on a sad note for residents of a housing society in Kandivli after two youths from their neighbourhood were killed in a bike accident early on Thursday.
Close friends Chintan Sedani (20) and Jayesh Bhagat (22) suffered multiple injuries after the bike spun out of control and banged into a divider and was then dragged for 15 feet. They were later declared dead by doctors at Bhagawati Hospital. Minutes before heading for the ride, the duo had attended a cultural programme for the sarvajanik Ganpati in their building.
“There was no eyewitness to the mishap; the bodies were found by patrolling beat marshals around 3.30 am. The boys weren’t drunk,” senior inspector Surendra Jaiswal said.
The two boys lived in adjacent wings of Anand Sarita building at Anand Nagar. An only child, Chintan was studying computer engineering at Somaiya College in Ghatkopar. His father, an engineer, works at Goregaon. Jayesh had recently completed an 18-month animation course from MAAC and had started working part-time at a Borivli-based agency, Beyond Illusion, as a sketch artist. His father was attached with BARC as an assistant administration officer in the past. Jayesh also has an elder sister who is married.
The Bajaj Calliber bike involved in the accident belonged to stockbroker Mehul Sanghavi. Two months ago, Sanghavi had lent the bike to his employee, Vikas Mehta, who used to ride it frequently. Vikas lived in the same building as Chintan and Jayesh.
On Wednesday night, the society had organised a cultural programme for Ganpati as the idol was to be immersed the next day. Chintan and Jayesh stayed back in the pandal past midnight. Around 1 am, they took Vikas’ bike for a quick ride. “Chintan had a driving licence but did not own a two-wheeler himself. He was not wearing a helmet when the accident took place,” Jaiswal added.
The exact time of the accident is not known, cops estimate it occurred around 1.05 am at Dahanukarwadi. The bike left scratches on the divider, where it got dragged. Its headlights were also damaged.
“A passerby found Jayesh’s phone and dialled his parents’ number to inform them about the accident. Jayesh’s father first checked at the Ganpati pandal in the building, before rushing to Dahanukarwadi,” a police officer said. Jayesh’s funeral was conducted on Thursday. Chintan’s body will be claimed on Friday, after his relatives reach Mumbai.
The police have registered a case of negligence against Chintan. An abetted summary will be filed before the court.
—Agencies