Mitesh Shah

Shivam Dave

Rahul Patel

mechanical engineer

driver

BMW

Ascent car driver

friends

Dinesh Chaudhary

Lalit Gupta

heroes

project consultant

Vastrapur police

If it was not for the crucial testimony of one Shah who stood his ground despite immense pressure, another Shah would not have been convicted in the Premchandnagar hit-and-run case. “Aena karane mane saja thay chhe (I was convicted because of him),” said Vismay Shah forwhose deposition was central to the court sending Vismay to five years in jail. It was Mitesh Shah’s car that Vismay first hit and then picked up speed before ramming into the motorcycle ofand, killing them.During his deposition before the trial court on July 23, 2014, Mitesh Shah, a, identified Vismay as theof thethat had rammed the motorcycle Shivam Dave and Rahul Patel were riding on the night of February 24, last year. “Aa desh no nyay aavo hoy, ke court Ascent car na chalak Mitesh Shah ni zubani manya rakhi. Aena karane mane saja thay chhe (Is this the law of the land, where the court has considered the statement ofMitesh Shah.It was because of him I was convicted),” said Vismay ato Mirror as he was being led to the washroom by a posse of policemen. After the verdict was pronounced, Vismay had a glass of water and a cup of tea. Thereafter he went to the washroom, washed his face and wiped it with his mom’s dupatta. His mother gave him a tablet for acidity.DENTED BUT NOT DEJECTEDMitesh Shah who had sworn not to repair the dent in his car until justice was delivered to the families of Rahul Patel and Shivam Dave was a relieved man on Monday. “I wanted to remind the world that the dent caused by Vismay’s car is very much on my car. I had sworn that I will not repair it till the families of the victim got justice. Today justice has been delivered. Now I will take it to the garage,” an emotional Mitesh said. The victims’ twoand, had earlier identified Vismay only to turn hostile later, but Mitesh Shah unflinchingly stood by his word and steadfastly took the case to its conclusion.It was his statement that brought justice to the victims’ families and made him a hero in their eyes, while making him the villain in the eyes of Vismay’s family. In a fight for justice that has many, Mitesh Shah stands out like a shining star. Asked if he had received threats or inducements during the course of the trial, Mitesh was forthcoming. “I did get a lot of calls from strangers wanting to influence me. I also got two to three calls from Lalit Gupta who told me he wished to meet me personally for some special work. After the first few times, I became suspicious about his motive and ignored his calls completely,” he told Mirror.Mitesh Shah, a, had skipped an important meeting with two of his clients who had come down from Surat on Monday to stand by Ghanshyam Patel, father of Rahul Patel. “My clients have decided to postpone our meeting for a day and will stay the night in a hotel. We will now meet on Tuesday,” he told Mirror. The relief on Ghanshyam Patel’s face was palpable as he stepped out of the courtroom. Tears flowed from his eyes even as he hugged Mitesh Shah.WHAT SHAH TOLD COURT DURINGThis examination by the trial court on July 23, 2014, Mitesh Shah had told the court that he had witnessed the accident from his car as he was following the BMW car. He had also seen Vismay at the site of the accident. He also told the court that he had seen Vismay fighting with two youths, including Lalit Gupta, the complainant and friend of the deceased who later turned hostile. Mitesh said he saw them while sitting in his car. He also saw a boy flee from the spot. When he came back after taking a U-turn from Mansi circle, many people had gathered at the spot and smoke was coming out of the car.The witness told the court that he had mentioned all this in his statement recorded on the spot as well as atstation on February 27. He saw Vismay again at the police station when he was called to give a statement. Pointing a finger at Vismay, who was sitting sit on a bench in the courtroom, Shah told the court that he was the driver fighting the two youths. Mitesh is the only witness till date who has identified Vismay in the case. The mechanical engineer also repeatedly said that the BMW's speed at the time seemed to be over 100 km an hour.