On that afternoon, the car was driven by a cousin of Miglani, an official of the company said.
It took all of five seconds. It purred into the portico of Le Meridien Hotel, the cynosure of all eyes. Not unusual for a Rs 4-crore car, even at one of New Delhi’s luxurious hotels. In moments though, the white Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder garnered eyeballs for a different reason.
For, on July 3, at 1.30 in the afternoon, a valet hit the accelerator instead of the brake on the high-end car, scattering people, careening into another sedan before ending at a wall barely 15 metres from where it had taken off. That 15-metre journey has caused damage seemingly beyond repair.
The car in question is owned by a businessman, Abid Fateh Mohammad Khatri, but was in the care of Nipun Miglani, owner of a pre-owned luxury car showroom, Big Boys Toys.
On that afternoon, the car was driven by a cousin of Miglani, an official of the company said. “As far as the car is concerned, it is damaged beyond repair. We have suggested that the hotel buy the vehicle, but that has been declined. We have been negotiating so far to get the residual value of the car, which is Rs 1.17crore, at the very least, because the damage to the vehicle is far too much,” the official said.
CCTV footage of the incident, which has gone viral on the internet, shows the Lamborghini pulling into the porch of the hotel, where there are several other vehicles parked. People are also seen milling around. The Lamborghini stops for a few seconds with the valet stepping out.
He then gets in again, and the car lurches forward at high speed, hitting another sedan in front of it, sending it spinning. At least three people have close escapes, with the Lamborghini racing past them, before colliding with a wall.
Miglani said, “The valet took the car at the entrance. He drove to the portico, stepped out and then sat inside again. And this time, instead of the brake, he stepped on the accelerator. The car went out of control. Contrary to reports, we have not sued the valet. Nothing will be achieved by doing that.”
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Senior officers of the Delhi Police said they were not involved in any way since no complaint had been filed with police. “A call was made to us on July 7. When we went to the hotel, nobody came forward with information. However, it must be said there is no complaint by either party. If there was to be one, we will investigate the incident,” a senior police officer said.
A statement issued by Le Meridien Hotel said, “An inadvertent human error resulted in cosmetic damage to the car. We are fully cooperating with the owner of the car with respect to insurance claim. The registered owner of the car is Mr Abid Fateh Mohd Khatri. Due to this inadvertent error, our driver suffered minor injuries and was provided medical assistance.”
Asked about the valet, a spokesperson at the Le Meridien hotel said the valet remains employed with the hotel.
As City Editor ( Delhi) at the Indian Express, Kaunain Sheriff leads city reporting with a sharp focus on accountability journalism, data-driven stories, and ground-level impact. As the National Health Editor he leads the newsroom’s in-depth coverage of pressing health issues.
He is the author of Johnson & Johnson Files: The Indian Secrets of a Global Giant, a definitive investigation into the accountability of one of the world’s most powerful pharmaceutical corporations.
Areas of Expertise
Investigative Reporting: Has deep expertise in investigative reporting spanning public health, regulatory affairs, drug safety, and the criminal justice system. His work sits at the intersection of governance, law, and accountability, with a particular focus on how regulatory failures, institutional lapses, and policy decisions affect citizens’ rights and safety.
Data Journalism: Has extensively on big data–driven investigations, including analyses of flagship government schemes and large datasets on criminal trials, uncovering systemic gaps.
Global Collaborations
Kaunain is a key contributor to major international journalistic projects:
The Implant Files: Collaborated with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) to expose global malpractices in the medical device industry.
Chinese Big-Data Investigation: Uncovered how a foreign data firm monitored thousands of prominent Indian institutions and individuals in real-time.
Awards & Recognition
His commitment to "Journalism of Courage" has been recognized with the industry's highest honors:
Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism
SOPA Award (Society of Publishers in Asia)
Red Ink Award (Mumbai Press Club)
Indian Express Excellence Awards (Triple recipient for investigations into the NSA abuse in UP, Vyapam scam, and the anti-Sikh riots).
Education: Studied Mechanical Engineering at Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), Bangalore, before moving to Delhi to pursue his passion for journalism. His engineering training informs his analytical approach, enabling him to decode technical, legal, and data-heavy systems with precision.
Social media
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kaunain-sheriff-3a00ab99
X ( fromerly Twitter): @kaunain_s ... Read More
On that afternoon, the car was driven by a cousin of Miglani, an official of the company said.
