Midnight drama at bandstand

Family driver takes blame for Rahul Tulsapurkar, who was actually at the wheel

Family driver takes blame for Rahul Tulsapurkar, who was actually at the wheel

A Bandra youth, allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol, rammed into five cars parked at Bandstand, Bandra, at 4.15 am today. He was accompanied by three other youths, who were also drunk, according to eyewitnesses.

A bunch of youth went berserk in Bandra early this morning, ramming their Honda Civic (MH 02 AU 6948) into five other parked cars, extensively damaging them Pictures: Narendra Dangiya	They then aimed at Mid day journalists, in a bid to stop us from taking pictures. The driver (circled) then drove into Le Papillon building, near Mount Mary, where they shifted into a Maruti Swift (MH 04 DJ 4070) and fled the scene
GOTCHA! The reporter and photographer followed Rahul Tulsapurkar's Honda Civic to the Le Papillon building near Mount Mary (left). They saw Rahul and his friends change cars and flee in a white Maruti Swift (MH04DJ4070) and provided the tip-off to the police. Pic/Narendra Dangiya	Minutes later, the family 'driver' (above) emerged from the building and told Mid day that it was not the kids, but he, who was, in fact, driving the car. However, pictures tell the REAL story.

According to the police, Rahul Tulsapurkar, who was driving a Honda Civic (MHO2 AU 6948), abandoned the car after the incident and rushed to his home in the Le Papillon building near Mount Mary.

The MiD DAY reporter and photographer followed the Honda Civic and saw Rahul and his friends change cars and flee in a white Maruti Swift (MH04DJ4070) and provided the tip-off to the police.u00a0u00a0

The Bandra police have zeroed in on the driver of the car, who works with the Tulsapurkar and are interrogating him. Though he has taken responsibility for the accident, pictures of the incident available with MiD DAY show that the driver was not present during the incident.

"I was driving the car," the driver told MiD DAY.

The police, however, refused to divulge details as the investigations were on at the time of going to press. "We are looking for the youths," said an officer from the Bandra police station.

Meanwhile, onlookers said the boys who got out of the car after the accident appeared to be drunk. A bottle was found in the car, however, cops were unable to confirm if it contained liquor.

The cars that were damaged belonged to Mausir Masalawala, a businessman living at Bandstand.

"I did not witness the accident, but I heard a loud bang and rushed down. I was horrified to see the damage my vehicles have borne," said Masalawala.

Among the cars damaged were two Toyota Corollas and an Opal Astra. A Ford Ikon and Tata Indica sustained minor damages.