Kanpur man dragged to death by speeding SUV on Diwali eve, police hunt driver
Synopsis
On the eve of Diwali, a speeding Thar SUV rammed into 55-year-old Santosh Singh Chouhan in Kanpur, dragging him nearly 20 metres to his death as he returned from Diwali shopping. The occupants — reportedly including a woman on a learner's licence — abandoned the vehicle and fled. Police have seized the SUV and launched a manhunt, with CCTV footage under examination.
Key Takeaways
Santosh Singh Chouhan , 55 , was killed on 8 November 2025 — Diwali eve — in Kanpur's Awas Vikas-3 locality.
A speeding Mahindra Thar SUV struck his scooter from behind and dragged him nearly 20 metres before crashing into a boundary wall.
The SUV was purportedly driven by a woman holding only a learner's licence ; two women and one man were in the vehicle.
All occupants fled in a separate car after abandoning the damaged Thar at the scene.
DCP West Kasim Abdi confirmed a case has been registered and police teams are conducting a manhunt.
CCTV footage from the area is being examined and the Thar has been taken into custody by Kalyanpur police .
A 55-year-old scooterist was killed after a speeding Mahindra Thar SUV rammed into him and dragged him nearly 20 metres in the Awas Vikas-3 locality of Kanpur's Kalyanpur area at around 7:30 pm on Saturday, 8 November 2025 — the eve of Diwali. The victim, Santosh Singh Chouhan, was returning from Diwali shopping and died on the spot; the accused occupants fled the scene and remain at large.
How the Incident Unfolded
Eyewitnesses told police that the Thar struck Santosh Singh Chouhan's scooter from behind at high speed. The SUV went out of control, dragging the victim along with his scooter before crashing through the boundary wall of a nearby house and coming to rest in its garden. Chouhan was declared dead at the hospital after being shifted there by police who arrived shortly after the collision.
The vehicle reportedly bore the inscriptions 'Bharatiya Kisan Union' on its front and 'Krishna Group' on the rear. According to reports, the SUV was purportedly driven by a woman holding only a learner's licence at the time of the accident. Two women and one man were said to be inside the car. After the crash, the occupants abandoned the damaged vehicle and escaped in a separate car.
Victim Was Out for Diwali Shopping
Santosh Singh Chouhan, a resident of the area, had gone to the market ahead of the Diwali festival. Some reports indicate he was returning home after purchasing a saree for his wife when his scooter was struck. His family has demanded immediate arrest and prosecution of all those in the vehicle at the time of the incident.
What Police Have Done So Far
Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Kasim Abdi confirmed that a case has been registered and multiple police teams have been deployed in a manhunt for the accused. The Thar has been taken into custody by the Kalyanpur police, and footage from nearby CCTV cameras is being examined to identify the driver and other occupants. The deceased's body has been sent for post-mortem examination.
This comes amid heightened traffic activity across Uttar Pradesh ahead of Diwali, when roads see a surge in vehicles and pedestrian movement, raising the risk of such incidents. Authorities have not yet named any suspect officially.
What Happens Next
Police say the CCTV analysis and examination of the vehicle are expected to yield leads in the coming hours. The family of Santosh Singh Chouhan is pressing for swift action, and the case is likely to draw further scrutiny given the alleged presence of a learner-licence holder at the wheel of a high-powered SUV on a busy festive evening.
Point of View
How was a learner-licence holder — reportedly at the wheel of a powerful SUV — on a busy urban road on one of the highest-traffic evenings of the year? Learner's licence restrictions exist precisely to prevent this. Second, the inscriptions on the vehicle — 'Bharatiya Kisan Union' and 'Krishna Group' — suggest affiliations that could complicate the investigation if political or social pressure materialises. The speed of the arrest, or lack thereof, will be the real indicator of whether accountability cuts across influence. Festive-season road fatalities in Uttar Pradesh are a recurring pattern; without enforcement before the surge, not after a death, the cycle will repeat.
NationPress
8 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was killed in the Kanpur Diwali eve SUV accident?
The victim was Santosh Singh Chouhan , a 55-year-old resident of Kanpur who was returning home after Diwali shopping when his scooter was struck by a speeding Thar SUV in the Awas Vikas-3 area of Kalyanpur on 8 November 2025 . He was declared dead at the hospital.
Who was driving the SUV in the Kanpur hit-and-run?
According to reports, the SUV was purportedly driven by a woman holding only a learner's licence at the time of the accident. Two women and one man were said to be in the vehicle, all of whom fled the scene in a separate car after the crash.
What action has the Kanpur police taken so far?
Kalyanpur police have registered a case, seized the Thar SUV, and launched a manhunt for the accused. DCP West Kasim Abdi confirmed that CCTV footage from the area is being examined to identify the driver and other occupants.
What is the significance of the inscriptions on the SUV?
The Thar bore the inscriptions 'Bharatiya Kisan Union' on the front and 'Krishna Group' on the rear, according to eyewitnesses. Police are using these details, along with CCTV footage, to trace the vehicle's registered owner and identify those responsible.
What is the family of the victim demanding?
The family of Santosh Singh Chouhan is demanding the immediate arrest and prosecution of all accused persons who were present in the vehicle at the time of the incident.
