‘Why didn’t you move?’: MLA’s son after allegedly ramming SUV into five
Dinesh Lodhi allegedly rammed Mahindra Thar into pedestrians and bikers, questioned victims in viral clip; case registered for rash driving
A shocking incident in Madhya Pradesh’s Shivpuri on Thursday (April 16) has triggered public outrage after the son of a BJP MLA allegedly rammed his sports utility vehicle (SUV) into five people and then blamed them for not giving way to his vehicle after he sounded the siren.
Dinesh Lodhi, son of Pichhore MLA Pritam Lodhi, is accused of hitting three men on a motorcycle and two women pedestrians around 7.30 am.
The SUV, a Mahindra Thar, first hit the motorbike from behind, injuring friends Sanjay Parihar, Ashish Parihar, and Anshul Parihar who were on their way to Dhanra village, said Karera police station in-charge Vinod Chavai. The vehicle then hit Sita Verma and Pooja Soni, who were walking ahead on the same side of the road, the official said.
Also read | UP man fleeing with minor sister-in-law rams car into relatives’ bikes, 3 killed
Sanjay Parihar suffered serious injuries. He, along with Sita Verma and Pooja Soni, was taken to the hospital by passers-by. They reportedly sustained injuries to their heads, limbs, and shoulders.
‘Why didn’t you move?’
A purported video of the aftermath has gone viral, showing Dinesh Lodhi arguing with the injured. “When I was sounding the siren, why didn’t you move?” he is heard saying.
He also allegedly threatened bystanders, telling them not to record the incident. As per the victims’ statements, the SUV, which had “MLA” written on its front and rear, was being driven by Dinesh Lodhi, the son of Pritam Lodhi, BJP MLA from Pichhore.
Adding to the controversy, the Thar involved in the accident did not have a number plate and instead bore the words “BJP MLA,” further fuelling outrage over the alleged misuse of political influence.
Case registered
A case was registered against Dinesh Lodhi under section 281 (rash and negligent driving endangering life) of the BNS, and a probe was on, said the police official.
MLA Pritam Lodhi, meanwhile, said in a statement on social media that the police should take impartial action and the victims should receive justice. “For an MLA, the public comes first, not family. The victims must get justice,” he said.
(With agency inputs)