Kanpur, Feb. 11 — The investigation into the high-profile Lamborghini crash in Kanpur took a dramatic turn on Wednesday after Mohan, identified as the designated driver of the luxury vehicle, claimed that he and not Shivam Mishra, son of tobacco businessman KK Mishra was driving at the time of the accident. Police, however, reiterated that available evidence clearly points to Shivam as the driver.
Speaking to reporters outside a local court, Mohan alleged that the accident occurred after Shivam, who was seated beside him, suffered a sudden seizure moments before the vehicle rammed into pedestrians on VIP Road.
“I was driving the car when the accident happened. Suddenly, he had a seizure and fell on me. I got scared and tried to hold him with one hand. The car hit a three-wheeler, climbed the divider and stopped,” Mohan claimed.
He further stated that the car’s automatic locking system prevented him from exiting immediately after the crash. “I shifted him to the driver’s seat and stepped outside. The glass was later broken,” he said.
Mohan’s lawyer had filed a surrender application before the court, and he appeared on Wednesday to formally surrender. However, the Gwaltoli police, in their report to the court, did not list him as an accused. In light of the police’s position, the court declined to accept his surrender.
The accident occurred around 3 p.m. on Sunday in the upscale Gwaltoli area when a Lamborghini Revuelto reportedly worth over ₹10 crore — struck pedestrians and other vehicles. One of the injured victims, Taufeeq, later filed an FIR.
Earlier, Shivam’s father KK Mishra had told police that Mohan was driving at the time of the crash. However, he later modified his statement, saying he was unsure who was at the wheel and that the matter should be left to investigation.
He also claimed the car had developed a technical issue a day earlier and was being tested after repairs. According to him, Shivam began losing consciousness while returning from Civil Lines, and when the driver checked on him, the car slowed down before being hit by an auto-rickshaw. Mishra added that security personnel travelling in an accompanying SUV broke the window to rescue his son.
The family has maintained that Shivam suffers from epilepsy and denied allegations of speeding or intoxication.
Kanpur Police have rejected these claims. Police Commissioner Raghubir Lal said CCTV footage, eyewitness testimonies and other evidence establish that Shivam was driving at the time of the crash. Officials also referred to videos allegedly showing bystanders pulling a man believed to be Shivam from the driver’s seat immediately after the incident.
The FIR, initially filed against an unidentified driver, was later revised to name Shivam Mishra as the accused. The luxury vehicle has been seized and sent for forensic examination as the investigation continues.
