A high-speed car that ran over three Jain sadhvis in Rewa on Wednesday is now at the centre of a heated dispute after newly released CCTV footage and technical experts questioned the police’s initial classification of the case as “gair iradaton ki hatya” (non‑intentional homicide). Two of the sadhvis died and a third remains critical, while members of the Jain community have stepped up nationwide protests demanding the charge be upgraded to murder.

What happened
According to hospital sources and local officials, the victims — Pujya Shruti Mati Mata and Upsamiti Mata — were killed at the scene, and Aryika Mata sustained serious injuries and is receiving treatment in Rewa Civil Hospital. The incident occurred late Saturday night in a busy VIP neighbourhood of the city, an area residents describe as tightly policed.

CCTV footage and expert read
Newly circulated CCTV footage shows the car approaching on the main road and then abruptly turning into the group of sadhvis, striking them before the vehicle veers away at an estimated 20‑degree angle. Traffic and forensics experts reviewed the clip and told reporters the pattern is inconsistent with a loss‑of‑control scenario.

“Initial reports indicate the manoeuvre and the post‑impact trajectory point to the driver having control of the vehicle,” an independent road safety analyst, who asked not to be named, said. Experts said a genuine “drowsy driving” or brake failure scenario would typically result in a larger steering correction or collision with fixed objects, not a clean 20‑degree departure as seen on tape.

Police action so far
Local police arrested the driver, identified by Station House Officer Vijay Singh as 42‑year‑old Rashid Abad Ali Shah, a resident of Nagpur who was reportedly returning from a relative’s wedding in Balrampur. Shah was detained after being caught at the Bahoripar toll plaza near Jabalpur, some 270 km from Rewa.

The Rewa police initially registered the case under non‑intentional homicide. Additional SP Aarti Singh said the investigation has been widened to include CCTV, vehicular forensics and mobile‑phone records. Commissioner B.S. Jamod, Deputy Commissioner Narendra Suryavanshi and SP Gurkaran Singh visited the hospital and the site, officials confirmed.

Community outrage
News of the footage prompted immediate anger within the Jain community. Protests and memorandum submissions have been reported from across India, with demonstrators demanding that investigators invoke the murder section and launch an SIT or judicial probe.

Local eyewitnesses described the scene in stark terms. “The road was empty; the car came at more than 100 km/h and went straight for the sadhvis,” said witness Abhishek Jain. Another bystander, Mukesh Jain, said: “When the CCTV shows the vehicle intentionally turning into people, this cannot be called an accident.” Several community leaders warned of sustained agitation unless stricter charges and a transparent probe follow.

Security and administrative questions
The incident has also raised questions about administration and security in a zone that houses multiple government offices. The site lies close to the Collectorate (about 10 metres), the police control room (50 metres), Civil Lines police station (70 metres) and the SP office (200 metres), residents noted. Critics say such an attack in a heavily monitored area points to lapses in local security arrangements.

What authorities say next
Police maintain they are examining all possibilities, including mechanical failure, driver negligence and deliberate intent, and have said charges will be framed according to evidence. “All angles are under investigation,” Additional SP Aarti Singh told reporters. Officials also said forensic teams are checking vehicle data and the driver’s movements prior to the crash.

Community demands and next steps
The Jain community has outlined key demands: an independent SIT or judicial inquiry, preservation of all CCTV and digital evidence, strict sections if conspiracy or intent is established, and a national “Sant Security Policy” to protect mendicants.

The case now hinges on technical forensic reports and the legal interpretation of the driver’s intent. If evidence supports deliberate action, activists and victims’ families say they will pursue legal and street-level pressure until the case is reclassified and prosecuted accordingly.