Goa: A viral incident involving a luxury Toyota Fortuner stuck in the waves at Vagator Beach has taken a dramatic turn, with a hotel staff member admitting he was solely responsible for driving the vehicle onto the shore.
In a video statement, the staffer said he had been asked to clean the SUV but, without the owner’s permission, decided to take it to the beach. He clarified that the owner, a tourist from Gujarat, was neither present at the time nor aware that the vehicle had been driven into a restricted coastal zone.
“I had taken the car on my own to the beach for a wash. The owner had no idea about this and was not even present there. I made a huge mistake,” the staffer said, apologising and urging people to stop blaming the owner.
The SUV’s owner, identified as Arjun Singh Rawat, had earlier stated that he had handed over the keys to hotel staff for cleaning. The admission by the staffer now supports his claim. However, several netizens claimed that this is a cover-up by the owner to avoid legal action for reckless driving.
The incident had gone viral after visuals showed the Fortuner partially submerged in seawater, with bystanders opening its doors as water gushed inside. Initial attempts to tow the vehicle using a Toyota Hilux failed, following which a JCB machine was used to pull it back to shore. The extent of saltwater exposure likely caused severe damage to the engine and electrical systems, potentially rendering the vehicle a total loss.
Despite the staffer’s confession, legal action is underway. Anjuna Police have seized the vehicle and registered a case under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for negligent conduct and violation of beach driving norms.
