MUMBAI: A 35-year-old bouncer employed by Krystal Integrated Services (KISL) is battling for his life in hospital after being hit by a speeding app-based cab and dragged along the road when he became trapped underneath the vehicle while trying to stop it.Sahar police said the victim, Ganesh Pawar, suffered critical injuries and is currently being treated in the intensive care unit (ICU). Another employee, security in-charge Himanshu Swami (22), who witnessed the incident, also sustained head injuries while attempting to stop the cab and rescue Pawar.The cab driver, identified as Vinod Singh (35), was detained shortly after the incident as he allegedly tried to flee from outside Gate No. 7 of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) on the night of June 7.“The driver was trying to evade the fine for parking outside the departure gate and took a passenger against the airport rule. Singh was nabbed immediately after the team managed to get hold of the vehicle number from the CCTV at the airport. The cab has been seized. One is serious while the other suffered minor injuries,” said an officer from Sahar police station.The incident took place at around 8 pm on June 7 when Singh arrived at the airport departure gate, dropped off a passenger and allegedly picked up another passenger in violation of airport regulations.In his complaint, Swami stated: “While performing duty at the departure gate of the airport I heard an unknown lady’s voice from a car while standing at visitor Gate No. 07, Lane No. 02. Pawar who was working with us tried to stop the car but was ran over him. I ran towards that car. When I tried to stop the car, the driver increased the car’s speed. While I was trying to catch the driver, I got hold of the door, but the driver again increased the speed and pushed me down, causing injury to my right hand and leg. Due to this, I cannot lift my hand and leg, and I cannot walk.”Police said that after seeing Pawar being dragged beneath the vehicle, Swami tried to pull him to safety and was also injured in the process.“The airport rule says that cabs cannot wait directly outside the arrivals gate to pick up passengers at Mumbai Airport. Drivers must park in the designated multi-level car park (MLCP) or designated app-cab zones and pay parking fees. Unsanctioned waiting on approach roads will result in heavy fines or towing. In this case, the cab driver tried to evade the fine and accelerated the vehicle when the Krystal guards approached to stop him on noticing he picked another passenger after dropping one,” a police officer said.Singh has been booked under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for reckless and negligent driving, along with sections of the Motor Vehicles Act.
