Delhi airport hit and drag case: Driver came under car wheels because of seatbelt, attackers tell police

On Wednesday night, the police arrested two men, identified as Mehraj Salmani, 33, and Asif Anwar, 24, from Meerut and booked them for murder. The police said they were being brought to Delhi. Salmani has over six criminal cases against him, and Asif nine. These include theft and armed robbery.

On Tuesday night, the victim was approached by the men who posed as passengers and boarded his cab. The police said the men later pushed Shah out of his car. The victim fell under the car and was dragged for at least a kilometre near the airport. A video of the incident showed the accused speeding and zig-zagging on the road with Shah stuck under the wheels. His body was later dislodged from the car, as per the video. The police had said Shah died on the spot due to severe head injuries.

The investigation has revealed that the duo booked Shah’s cab from Saket Select City Mall on Tuesday night. “They told Shah they wanted to go to IGI Airport, and when the car reached a secluded stretch at Mahipalpur, they pushed Shah. Shah was wearing a seat belt. So, he was stuck and dangling from his car. The accused later grabbed the wheel and pushed him again. This time, he came under the wheel. He tried stopping them, but the accused ignored him and sped towards the airport,” said an officer.

The police found several videos shot by passersby on NH 48. The accused allegedly dragged the man for a kilometre and later left him as they heard others honking at them, said the police.

Sources said the accused had planned to carjack other vehicles and rob people near the IGI Airport but got scared due to the accident and fled to Meerut. “They told us they had plans to rob others. They have previous involvement near the airport since it is isolated,” added the officer.

Special Commissioner Sagar Preet Hooda had said the men were identified as CCTV footage helped police trace the car. Shah is survived by his wife and their five children. The family hailed from Bihar’s Motihari district.