Outrage over Lamborghini crash in India reignites debate over privilege and impunity
The car’s driver was released on a bail of US$300 after critically injuring two construction workers, sparking accusations of unequal justice
Deepak Kumar – a luxury car dealer – was arrested for rash and negligent driving after a Lamborghini he was testing veered out of control and hit two construction workers in Noida, a city bordering the Indian capital, last Sunday.
On Monday, Kumar was allowed out on a bail of 25,000 rupees (US$300), triggering renewed fury online and fresh debate over the country’s uneven justice system.
A widely circulated video of the incident shows Kumar stepping out of the crashed vehicle and asking bystanders in Hindi, “Koi mar gaya kya?” (“Has anyone died?”).
The footage, filmed by a witness, has fuelled accusations of impunity for India’s affluent, especially when crashes involve poor pedestrians or roadside workers.
Gaurav, a bystander who witnessed the crash, told Indian news agency ANI: “The driver could not control the car, hit people and then crashed into the divider.”