Vadodara, Drunk Driving and Lawlessness: Are We Failing Our Youth?

KAKALI DAS

There are important questions we, as citizens, must ask, especially regarding the alleged drunk-driving incident in Vadodara.

The incident involved a young man named Rakshit Chaurasia, believed to be in his early 20s and a law student at the university. He reportedly lost control of his speeding car, crashing into four individuals, resulting in the death of one person and leaving several others injured.

The nation was shocked by a viral video of the Vadodara drunk-driving incident, where Rakshit Chaurasia, allegedly intoxicated, emerged from his car shouting “another round.” Bystanders apprehended him and handed him over to the police. He was also heard screaming “Nikita,” though her identity remains unknown, while chanting “Om Namah Shivay.”

Vadodara, Drunk Driving and Lawlessness: Are We Failing Our Youth? — The driver was drunk and emerged from his car shouting “another round.”

Chaurasia, reportedly driving at 120 km/h, crashed into two scooters, dragging the riders before hitting four people, including a woman out with her child to buy Holi colors. She died on the spot, while the child remains hospitalized. The accused, a law student from Varanasi studying in Vadodara, has been arrested along with Amit Chauhan, the car owner and also a student.

Reports indicate Chaurasia and his friends were drinking at a private residence on February 19, causing a disturbance. Locals confronted and roughed them up before an advocate called the police. However, the advocate refused to file an FIR, letting them off with a warning since they were students.

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In his defence, Chaurasia denied drinking, claiming he lost control after hitting a pothole, triggering the airbag and obstructing his vision. He admitted fault and expressed a desire to meet the victims’ families.

These incidents are part of a growing pattern. Recently in Pune, a young man, visibly intoxicated, stopped his car in the middle of the road to urinate. In another Pune case, a speeding young driver crashed his car and was arrested, while his family allegedly attempted to shield him from consequences.

This raises important questions about the privilege of the wealthy, the recklessness of young people consuming alcohol, and the state of law and order.

To provide some context on Gujarat’s law and order situation: Gujarat is a dry state, meaning alcohol is prohibited, and of course, narcotics are banned across the country.

According to The Times of India, police data from 2024 reveals that 82 lakh bottles of alcohol were seized across Gujarat in a year, amounting to ₹144 crore in contraband. In Ahmedabad alone, 4,38,047 illegal bottles were confiscated.

Experts suggest this is merely the tip of the iceberg, crediting the high numbers to an intensified police crackdown. In Vadodara’s rural areas, authorities seized ₹9.8 crore worth of Indian-made foreign liquor hidden in secret compartments, trucks, and godowns.

In 2024 alone, Gujarat saw narcotics and psychotropic drug seizures worth a staggering ₹7,303 crore, highlighting the failure of prohibition in the state.

Instead of curbing substance abuse, the ban has fuelled a thriving black market, giving college and university students easy access to alcohol and drugs.

According to the Police Commissioner of Vadodara, a detailed investigation is currently underway. The Gujarat police, using a rapid test kit, have confirmed the presence of drugs in the accused’s bloodstream. The Indian Express reports that the narcotics test confirmed the presence of drugs, though it remains unclear how admissible this evidence will be in court and how it will affect the progression of the case.

The larger issue here is the repeated instances of narcotics seizures at Gujarat’s ports. If such vast quantities of alcohol are being confiscated, one can only imagine how much is being consumed without detection.

This raises serious questions about law and order, especially since Gujarat’s prohibition laws are meant to prevent alcohol consumption altogether. Shouldn’t stricter enforcement and accountability be in focus?

If alcohol and drug trafficking are this rampant, it points to corruption at various levels of law enforcement. The police must be held accountable and questioned—how is this happening under their watch?

Beyond law enforcement, there’s also a broader social responsibility. When young people move to other cities for education or have access to money and cars, how are they using these privileges? More importantly, who is responsible for monitoring their actions—the parents, society, or the authorities?

These are adults—22-year-olds, not children—so their parents can’t be held accountable for their actions. If a minor crashes a car, the parents bear responsibility, but what happens when an adult does the same? Who is held accountable then?

Finally, this case highlights the influence of wealth and power, the widening gap between rich and poor, and how the wealthy—even the young—exploit the system with a sense of impunity. Too often, they believe they can escape consequences until a tragedy forces reckoning.

Why do young people in their 20s in these cities feel they can get away with drunk driving? Is it weak law enforcement, or have they been bribing their way out of minor offenses until it escalates to this level?

Who should be held accountable? As a society, this is a pressing issue—how do we find a solution? Where does the responsibility lie, and how can we do a better job of addressing these growing concerns among young adults?

22-03-2025

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