The Marine Drive police investigating the hit-and-run case of a builder’s son on Tuesday claimed that Sushil Kothari’s relatives with whom he was dining before the accident had warned him not to drive home as he was heavily drunk.
However, Kothari did not heed their advice and drove off, soon after which his car rammed into a scooter, killing one and critically injuring another. The police have recorded the statement of the relative and the hotel staff, all of whom confirmed that Kothari was very drunk.
According to police sources, Kothari had gone to a plush hotel at Marine Drive on September 1 to meet his friends and relatives, comprising three men and three women. “Following the accident, we recorded statements of people Kothari had met before the incident to ascertain how drunk he was.
The hotel staff told us that the men, including Kothari, had consumed two bottles of premium whiskey Chivas Regal and had also ordered another.
The alcohol content in his body was very high, and this has been corroborated by the medical, blood test and breathalyser reports submitted by the traffic department,” said senior police inspector Z Gharal of Marine Drive police station.
He added that while leaving, Kothari offered to drop off a couple who was put up at a nearby five-star hotel. “The couple had come from Pune, and as per their statement, after he dropped them to their destination the husband advised Kothari to take a cab home or call his driver there as he was heavily drunk. However, Kothari decided to drive home himself,” said Gharal.
“We have recorded the statement of the hotel staff and the relative and his statement will be of utmost importance during the trial,” he said.
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