Kanpur Lamborghini crash: Fresh questions arise over luxury cars and accountability in India
New Delhi: A high-speed crash in Kanpur has reignited debate over reckless driving and perceived privilege shielding the wealthy from accountability in India. The incident occurred on Sunday in the city’s Gwaltoli area when a Lamborghini, allegedly driven by the son of a tobacco businessman, lost control and ploughed into pedestrians, two-wheelers and an autorickshaw, leaving at least six people injured.
Police confirmed that Shivam Mishra, son of Banshidhar Exports Pvt Ltd owner K K Mishra, is under investigation, though his name does not appear in the First Information Report (FIR). The case has fuelled public anger, with many pointing to a pattern of high-profile crashes involving luxury cars and affluent drivers.
A pattern of deadly luxury car crashes
The Kanpur accident is the latest in a string of serious crashes across India:
New Delhi (2025): A drunk Audi driver ran over five people, including two couples and a child, as they slept on a footpath in Vasant Vihar.
Noida, Uttar Pradesh (2025): A Lamborghini struck two labourers working on a footpath near Sector 94, injuring both.
Pune, Maharashtra (2024): Two IT professionals were killed when a Porsche, allegedly driven by a minor and builder’s son, rammed their motorcycle. The case sparked national outrage over juvenile justice laws.
Noida, Uttar Pradesh (2024): Two separate BMW crashes killed three people and injured several others in May and January.
Ahmedabad, Gujarat (2023): Nine people died when a Jaguar, allegedly driven by a businessman’s son, ploughed into a crowd on ISKCON Bridge.
Nuh, Haryana (2023): A Rolls-Royce Phantom collided with a fuel tanker on the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway, killing two.
Purvanchal Expressway, Uttar Pradesh (2022): A BMW travelling at over 230 kmph crashed into a truck, killing all four occupants.
Palghar, Maharashtra (2022): Former Tata Sons chairman Cyrus Mistry and Jehangir Pandole died when their Mercedes-Benz hit a divider on the Mumbai–Ahmedabad highway. Overspeeding and seat-belt issues were cited.
Bengaluru, Karnataka (2021): Seven people were killed when an Audi Q3 mounted a footpath and crashed into a building wall.
Hosapete, Karnataka (2020): An overspeeding Mercedes-Benz killed an 18-year-old pedestrian and a passenger in the car.
Public anger and safety concerns
The Kanpur crash has amplified calls for stricter enforcement of road safety laws and harsher penalties for reckless driving. Critics argue that wealth and influence often allow offenders to evade accountability, while victims, frequently pedestrians or workers, bear the brunt of such tragedies.
The incident has also renewed focus on overspeeding on India’s expanding network of high-speed corridors, as well as the need for stronger measures to curb drunk driving and ensure compliance with seat-belt regulations.
PTI