The silence of the “VVIP” treatment in Kanpur was broken on February 12, 2026, when local police arrested Shivam Mishra, the heir to the Banshidhar tobacco empire. After four days of shifting narratives and hospitalizations, the 26-year-old was apprehended by five specialized police teams.
The arrest follows a violent crash on Sunday, February 8, that transformed a busy Kanpur intersection into a scene of luxury carnage, leaving three people—including an auto-rickshaw driver and a motorcyclist—injured.
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Sunday’s High-Speed Chaos: The Ring Wala Chauraha Crash
Witnesses at Ring Wala Chauraha describe a terrifying sequence of events involving the orange Lamborghini Revuelto.
The Impact: The vehicle allegedly struck an auto-rickshaw (driven by Tauseef Ahmed) and a parked Royal Enfield motorcycle with such force that the rider was flung 10 feet into the air.
The Aftermath: The Lamborghini mounted the front wheel of the motorcycle and dragged it several meters before coming to a halt against an electric pole.
The “Extraction”: Passersby recorded videos of bouncers from a following security vehicle breaking the Lamborghini’s glass to pull an unconscious Shivam Mishra from the wreckage before locals could intervene.
The “Driver Swap” Strategy: Mohan vs. Police Evidence
In the 48 hours leading up to the arrest, a man named Mohan emerged, claiming to be the family’s designated driver. He asserted that he was at the wheel and that Shivam, sitting in the passenger seat, suffered a seizure and “collapsed onto him,” causing the loss of control.
The Police Rebuttal: Commissioner Raghubir Lal dismissed the claim as an attempt to mislead the probe. “We have CCTV footage and multiple eyewitness statements that clearly place Shivam in the driver’s seat,” Lal stated.
Procedural Lapses: The investigation has already claimed its first professional casualty: Gwaltoli SHO Santosh Gaur was suspended for allegedly allowing the driver-swap narrative to fester during the initial FIR process.
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Medical or Malice? The Epilepsy & Alcohol Probe
The core of the defense rests on Shivam Mishra’s medical history. The family has provided documents claiming he has suffered from epileptic episodes for the past six months.
The Forensic Test: Police have ordered a full medical board to verify if a seizure occurred or if the “medical emergency” is a legal shield.
Sobriety Check: While the family claims he was unconscious due to health, the police are awaiting toxicology reports to rule out the influence of alcohol or narcotics at the time of the 3:15 PM crash.
Legacy of Scrutiny: The Banshidhar Tobacco Connection
The Mishra family is no stranger to the spotlight. In March 2024, the Income Tax Department raided their Banshidhar Tobacco premises, uncovering an estimated ₹100 crore in tax evasion.
The Fleet: During those raids, officials found a fleet of luxury cars, including a Rolls-Royce Phantom and several Ferraris, all bearing the signature number plate “4018”.
The Industry: KK Mishra’s firm is a primary raw material supplier to India’s leading pan masala and gutkha brands, a business that has allowed for a lifestyle marked by ₹2.5 crore diamond-studded watches and exotic Italian hypercars.
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[KANPUR CRASH INVESTIGATION TRACKER: FEB 2026]
| Category | Detail | Status |
| Accused | Shivam Mishra (26) | Arrested & Produced in Court |
| BNS Sections | 281, 125, 324(4) | FIR Formalized |
| Key Witness | Tauseef Ahmed (Auto Driver) | Statement Recorded |
| Evidence | CCTV + Dashcam Footage | Seized by Forensic Team |
Next Steps
If you are a resident of Kanpur, you should avoid the VIP Road and Ring Wala Chauraha areas during peak evening hours, as forensic teams are conducting speed-reconstruction tests that may cause traffic diversions. Furthermore, if you are following the legal progress of this case, you should look for the medical board’s report on epilepsy, as this finding will determine whether the charges remain “negligent driving” or are upgraded to more serious offenses under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita.
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