PANAJI
Panic swept through the Dona Paula circle late Tuesday night after a speeding BMW allegedly ploughed into multiple vehicles, reviving fears over reckless driving just a month after a fatal luxury car crash nearby.
Police arrested the driver, identified as Jagdish Sardesai, 27, of Dona Paula, and booked him for rash and negligent driving as well as driving under the influence of alcohol. No injuries were reported in the latest incident; however, Sardesai's involvement in another accident this January resurfaced.
In the CCTV footage reviewed by the Panaji police, the BMW was allegedly driven at a high speed when it suddenly swerved into the right lane, first crashing into a parked jeep before colliding with an oncoming vehicle. The impact triggered chaos on the busy stretch, with motorists stopping abruptly and bystanders rushing to the scene.
The car also had a female passenger inside at the time of the crash.
Video footage circulating online appeared to show Sardesai arguing aggressively with the owner of a damaged vehicle and hurling abuses before allegedly calling his father to the spot. Police personnel arrived shortly afterward even as the BMW driver continued his aggression.
Fresh attention has also turned to Sardesai’s past record after an older video linked to a January 2026 accident resurfaced online. In that case, he was convicted of rash and negligent driving and fined Rs 11,000 by a court.
In a similar accident near the same stretch in April, a 23-year-old girl lost her life, and her colleague, a 26-year-old male, was seriously injured after a brand-new Mini Cooper driven by the son of a businessman hit the two-wheeler on which both were travelling. The Mini Cooper was temporarily registered as it was newly purchased.