Widow Struggles for Justice Seven Years After Fatal Drunk Driving Crash
Preeti Mishra, a Mumbai widow, is still waiting for justice seven years after her husband, Shailesh Mishra, was killed by an allegedly drunk driver. The trial against the accused, Sudhandhu Saboo, has yet to begin, leaving Preeti to raise their daughter alone while navigating a slow legal system.
The Night That Changed Everything
On June 16, 2019, Shailesh Mishra, a 34-year-old financial advisor and MBA graduate pursuing a CFA certification, was traveling from Kandivli to Andheri in an app-based cab. According to the FIR registered by Aarey Police, a speeding car driven by Sudhandhu Saboo, then 19, rammed into the cab from behind at Goregaon East. Saboo's learning license had expired, police said. Shailesh, seated in the backseat, began bleeding from his nose and mouth. He was rushed to Trauma Care Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Legal Delays and a Discharge Application
Saboo was arrested at the scene but granted bail in August 2019. Since then, the case has faced repeated adjournments. In 2024, Saboo filed a discharge application through his lawyer, Inderpal Singh, seeking to be discharged entirely or have charges reduced from 'culpable homicide not amounting to murder' and 'drunk driving' to 'causing death by negligence'. Singh told TOI, "We have filed a discharge application. The prosecution has filed their say. The matter has been kept for arguments."
A Mother's Struggle
Preeti, who became a single mother to seven-month-old Preesha after the crash, has attended court hearings with her infant daughter. The legal process slowed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The prolonged battle, combined with being the sole breadwinner, has severely impacted Preeti's health. A recent health scare has intensified her anxiety.
Social Media Plea for Justice
Desperate for the trial to begin, Preeti has turned to social media. In a heartfelt post, she said, "I’m not seeking sympathy. I want my voice to reach the authorities. Does the life of a common citizen not hold any value?" Her daughter, now seven, often asks, "Mumma, where is Papa?"—a painful reminder of the father she never truly knew.
