Who is Shaurya Goyal, the 'academically focused' south Delhi teen booked in Goa Thar crash

• Shaurya Goyal identified as driver in fatal Goa crash
• Police ruled out alcohol; Goyal released on bail
• Victim's family in shock; investigation ongoing

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A day after Goa Police identified 19-year-old Shaurya Goyal as the driver of the Mahindra Thar involved in the fatal crash in Assagao, neighbours in south Delhi’s Hauz Khas described him as a reserved and academically focused student.

Goyal, a second-year BBA student at a private university near Delhi, lives with his family in Y Block, Hauz Khas.

Residents said he mostly kept to himself and was serious about his studies. “He usually came home on weekends and was focused on academics,” a neighbour said. Another resident added that he rarely drove and mostly used cabs for commuting.

Goyal is the elder of two siblings. His family runs a jewellery business in Delhi, while his younger sister is still in school.

According to Goa Police, Goyal was driving the Mahindra Thar on Monday evening when it allegedly lost control and collided with a Hyundai i20 near a junction in Assagao. The accident took place around 5.50 pm as the Thar was travelling from Mapusa towards Anjuna.

The crash claimed the life of 65-year-old tourist Bhagat Ram Sharma from Bhopal. An FIR has been registered by Anjuna Police for rash driving and causing death by negligence. Goyal was arrested after the incident and later released on bail.

Police said his medical examination ruled out alcohol consumption at the time of the accident. The investigation is being led by PSI Saish Kinlekar, and officials said further inquiries are ongoing.

‘Man died of heart attack’: Goyal’s mother

Meanwhile, the mother of Shaurya Goyal, Shilpi Goyal, has claimed the man who died did so because of a heart attack.

She also claimed the ambulance being delayed by 45 minutes contributed to the death, NDTV reported. Shilpi argued that his son deserved credit for not trying to escape responsibility.

"My son went to Goa with his school friends and I was fully aware of it (i.e., his trip). (After the accident) he cooperated with the police investigation and is out on bail," Goyal was quoted by NDTV as saying.

"My son was not drunk. A breathalyser test was done and my son was found negative," she also said, arguing the boy had been "deeply traumatised" by the "very unfortunate" incident. "We have sent him to the counsellor," she said.

Who was driving Thar?

Soon after the accident, some eyewitnesses claimed that a young woman was driving the Thar. However, police have denied this. Anjuna Police Inspector Suraj Gawas said no witness informed investigators that a woman was at the wheel.

“CCTV footage clearly shows Shaurya Goyal driving the vehicle,” the officer said. He added that anyone with credible information can approach the police.

Meanwhile, a childhood friend of Goyal dismissed rumours circulating online, including claims of seat-switching after the crash. “He is extremely disturbed by what has happened. We studied together and he has always been serious about studies. Many of the claims being shared online are not true,” the friend said.

Family in shock in Bhopal

The accident has left Sharma’s family and neighbours in Bhopal’s Sundar Nagar in deep shock. Sharma, who ran a TV repair business, had recently visited the area with his wife.

At the time of the accident, Sharma’s wife Leela Sharma, 59, suffered a leg fracture, while a three-month-old infant in the car sustained minor injuries. Sharma was rushed to the District Hospital in Mapusa but was declared dead.