Ahmedabad: A tragic hit-and-run incident on the night of May 14–15 left 27-year-old state-level footballer Andre Rahul Raymond Bhatia critically injured after a speeding luxury car rammed into his two-wheeler and fled the scene. Bhatia, who is currently on ventilator support in the ICU at Apollo Hospital, suffered a skull fracture, brain hemorrhage, and severe facial injuries.

Despite public outrage, the driver remained unidentified for nearly a week. However, a key breakthrough came when police found a Mercedes logo at the scene. Tracing it led them to Vijay Vaghji Desai, the son of Head Constable Vaghji Desai with the Ahmedabad Rural Police. Vijay, who had bought the second-hand luxury car in March, was arrested on May 22 following a review of CCTV footage and phone records.

The accident occurred around midnight near the Palladium Mall flyover when Bhatia and a friend were returning from a restaurant. The black sedan hit Bhatia from behind at high speed, throwing him off his bike. In the aftermath, another two-wheeler collided with the gathered crowd, causing more injuries. Bhatia was first taken to Sola Civil Hospital and later shifted to Apollo Hospital.

Vijay Desai has been booked under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Motor Vehicles Act, including charges of rash driving and endangering life. Meanwhile, Bhatia’s family, who runs a shop in the city and whose mother is a retired teacher, is seeking public support to raise funds for his treatment. Bhatia has represented Gujarat in the Santosh Trophy and Subroto Cup. DeshGujarat