What began as a birthday celebration turned into a fatal late-night joyride in Delhi after a 17-year-old rented an Audi for Rs 16,000 and ended up crashing into three vehicles and a pedestrian.
The teenager had reportedly booked the luxury car through an app for an overnight rental to celebrate a friend’s birthday. But the celebratory drive soon spiralled into tragedy, leaving 45-year-old Umashankar dead from injuries sustained in the collision.
The teenager has since been detained by the police, while the Audi involved in the accident has been seized.
The case has also put the spotlight on the company that rented the vehicle to the minor. Investigators are now examining how the booking was processed and, crucially, how a 17-year-old was able to obtain a luxury car despite being legally underage to drive it.
How the birthday joyride turned into a tragedy
According to the information available so far, the juvenile had rented the Audi through an app for an overnight period, reportedly paying Rs 16,000.
The circumstances surrounding the crash are still being investigated. Police are trying to establish the sequence of events leading up to the accident, including who was behind the wheel when the Audi collided with three vehicles and struck Umashankar.
The 45-year-old pedestrian succumbed to his injuries.
The police are also investigating whether the teenager drove the Audi for the entire rental period or whether someone else drove the vehicle at some point.
This aspect could prove significant as investigators attempt to establish individual responsibility for the accident.
Police turn their attention to the rental company
While the teenager is at the centre of the investigation, authorities are also examining the role of the company that handed over the Audi.
A police officer told NDTV that investigators are seeking details of the complete booking and verification process from the company.
This includes how the booking was made, whether the renter’s age was checked, whether a valid driving licence was obtained and verified, and what procedure was followed before the vehicle was handed over.
The central question is straightforward: How did a 17-year-old manage to rent and take possession of a luxury car?
If the investigation establishes that the company failed to conduct mandatory age or licence verification, or otherwise violated applicable rules before handing over the vehicle, authorities have indicated that action could follow against the company.
The investigation could therefore extend beyond the driver and examine whether there were systemic lapses in the vehicle-rental process.
Who else was inside the Audi?
Police are also working to establish exactly who was travelling in the Audi when the accident occurred.
Authorities are attempting to identify all the occupants and determine their ages, PTI reported. This could help investigators reconstruct what happened immediately before the crash and determine whether anyone else played a role in the events leading to it.
The police are also examining whether the juvenile was driving continuously or whether the vehicle changed hands during the rental period.
Juvenile produced before Juvenile Justice Board
The teenager was presented before the Juvenile Justice Board through video conferencing, according to the police officer quoted by NDTV.
Since the accused is a minor, the case will be dealt with under India’s juvenile justice framework, which provides a separate legal process for children alleged to have committed offences.
