God's servant or drunk driver?

The incident of a mob chasing and ramming to death the vehicle allegedly driven by key witness Kuldeep Singh has unleashed national outrage against drunken driving, security on Indian roads, and also misusing religious authority. The mishap occurred around midnight on the Pushkar-Ajmer highway. The car that met with the accident was a Toyota Fortuner, allegedly driven by 22-year-old Digvijay Singh Chauhan, who worked as a sevadar at Khatu Shyam Mandir Seva Samiti. The SUV ploughed through a line of two-wheelers close to the notorious Pushkar Ghati stretch, killing one and injuring several others. What began like a regular highway mishap soon became a huge embarrassment, with police claiming to have recovered liquor bottles inside the car, which was also found to be registered in the temple committee's name.

The Fortuner had been spied on the night of May 18 from Pushkar to Ajmer, local police said. The SUV went out of control in misty conditions, for which it has often proved deadly when cars come teeming downhill towards Pushkar Ghati. Witnesses told police the driver slammed into a pair of motorcycles riding in formation on the freeway. The force launched the bikers across the roadway, and the SUV spun enough to make a sound like it was going over a cliff until stopping near the divide.

The deceased was identified as Ravi (35) of Dholabhata in Ajmer. Painter Rabi Ranjan was taken to the hospital along with his brother-in-law Jitendra alias Sonu, who was also seriously injured in the collision, and several other people on the bike who were also injured. His death shattered the whole family of Ravi. He was the only brother of four sisters. The victim’s father, Kishore Kumar, who retired from the railways, went to the Pushkar police station later and submitted a written complaint seeking severe action against the people responsible for the accident.

The report adds that the Indian police have revealed that the alleged Toyota Fortuner SUV of the perpetrator is registered as Khatu Shyam Mandir Seva Samiti near Sikar (district). Police found multiple speeding tickets, have-must-pay warrants, and liquor inside the vehicle. The driver's behaviour was being investigated to determine intoxication status and the relevance of reckless driving for a particular crash, resulting in public outrage.

After viral videos of Digvijay Singh Chauhan, the matter became more serious. In several videos going viral on social media, he was seen doing VIP related duties and management activities in the Khatu Shyam Temple. These videos went viral on social media, and many called Chauhan a "priest." But a few news reports also pointed out that Chauhan was not strictly a temple priest/pujari; he was a sevadar, someone involved in the administration and service sides of worship services at temples. Police also said that Digvijay Singh Chauhan was held in custody during the investigation. Detectives are examining CCTV, witness accounts, and forensic evidence - including claims that alcohol was found in the SUV. With the case making headlines around the world, new calls for accountability and harsh punishment are also being sent more strongly across social media.

The resident has often complained of speeding vehicles, particularly luxury SUVs and tourist vehicles, never really adhering to the safety norms of turning at the curve and on hilly stretches. A local news article said witnesses said the Fortuner involved in the accident was driving at a speed of 80 to 90 kilometres per hour, which is dangerous in the terrain, and visibility was low as it was nighttime.

The public response has been intense. Social media was flooded with criticism, with many users blaming influential persons and religious organisations for getting away with accountability when it comes to public safety. Some commented on privilege and asked how a car with multiple traffic violations was still on the road. This accident has become more than a criminal investigation. It is now a debate about policing, state power, and whether the elite in fact receive rights above all others, even when they commit crimes so serious as homicide or manslaughter.

Police also said that Digvijay Singh Chauhan was held in custody during the investigation. Detectives are examining CCTV, witness accounts, and forensic evidence - including claims that alcohol was found in the SUV. With the case making headlines around the world, new calls for accountability and harsh punishment are also being sent more strongly across social media.

India has just seen a traffic mishap that has resulted in instant demands for rigorous implementation of traffic rules against members of influential camps. Campaigners against motoring law have urged the loss of driving licenses due to consistent speeding and cars being seized. It had also drawn attention to the fact that thousands died each year due to rash driving and inaction on the enforcement of laws and delayed punishments.

For Ravi’s family, the debate is weeks too late. A normal ride home on my bike went disastrous in about 5 minutes. Beyond the hyperbolic news and online drama is the story of the grieving family whose loss has become a case study in a larger conversation about accountability, privilege, and justice.

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