‘Our son in a coma since 2023… don’t have money to last the week’: Wife of Delhi cabbie killed in Siri Fort crash

“Whatever Rs 35,000-40,000 he earned, half of it had to be spent on our son’s medicines. Our elder son had to quit his studies so we could afford his brother’s treatment. I have to stay home for Vishal’s full-time care. How can I go out and work now?” says Girja’s wife Rekha Bharadwaj, who is in her late 30s.

Girja had been a driver for most of his life, Rekha says. He started with tempos and loaders when he arrived in Delhi 25 years ago, shifting to cab-driving in recent years in order to make more money.

“Our dream was to educate both our sons so we could leave this place. But in 2023, Vishal met with an accident and has been in a coma since. Deepak (Vishal’s brother) and I have to stay home to take care of him. My husband used to bring medicines every day based on whatever he earned. I don’t even have money to last a week now,” Rekha says.

The driver of the Citroën that collided with Girja’s white Hyundai Xcent car was identified as Krishansh Kapoor (21), an MBA student from Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). Police said the offending vehicle was being driven at a speed of around 100 kmph while descending the Panchsheel Flyover, when it hit Girja’s car, which was turning at the Siri Fort intersection.

Krishansh’s mother is a tuition teacher and his father is unemployed, police said. The family lives in Udai Park in South Delhi’s Andrews Ganj, where Krishansh was headed after attending a party at a friend’s house.

Girja was ferrying Ranjeet and Sumit — who are related and play drums at weddings — from Andrews Ganj to Ranjeet’s residence in Nehru Nagar. The two were in South Delhi to perform at a wedding.

As Girja’s car reached the Siri Fort intersection and turned towards Balbir Saxena Marg, the speeding Citroën coming down the Panchsheel Flyover from the opposite direction hit its left side, ramming the cab into a nearby signboard before it crashed into a traffic signal pole and mounted the pavement, said police.

Both vehicles were found at the Andrews Ganj intersection. The Xcent’s left side was completely mangled, while the Citroën’s bumper was damaged due to the impact of the collision.

“The accused, Krishansh Kapoor, was present at the spot and was immediately arrested. He was returning from a friend’s party and was heading to his home in Udai Park, which is about one kilometre from the accident site,” a police officer said.

Police said a case has been registered against Krishansh under Sections 281 and 106 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at the Hauz Khas police station.

A medical examination confirmed that he was not under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident, police said.