Band's shock over stolen van in police chase crash

A singer has spoken of his shock at discovering a stolen van involved in a serious crash belonged to his band.

A Mercedes van was being pursued by police on the wrong side of the A46 in Leicester, in the early hours of 29 June when it collided with a BMW 1 series and caught fire.

The BMW driver was taken to hospital and Niks Rogacs, 26, from Leicester, was charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving, theft of a vehicle and driving without insurance.

It has since emerged the van itself was owned by pop-bhangra act Masti Band and had been carrying "priceless" drums.

The van was taken from a car park in Leicester's Walnut Street about five days before the crash.

Aamir Rana, the band's vocalist and keyboard player, told the BBC specialised drums were among the van's contents, which also included mixing desks, amplifiers and speakers.

The 36-year-old said a dhol drum was owned by his uncle and the band's percussionist, Surinder Sandhu, 62, who had played it for more than 40 years and had his name written on the side.

Rana said Sandhu, from Leicester, made several modifications to a traditional dholki, which was a new invention and prototype, adding the "sentimental stuff is priceless really".

"It's not just stuff that can be replaced," said Rana, from West Bridgford in Nottinghamshire.

"Some of it is sentimental, some of it was built and kind of one-offs really, so it was quite tough to stomach.

"We've had to change all of our upcoming performances. Instead of being a live band, we're doing performances to backing tracks."

He added some of the equipment was recently purchased and their insurance had not been updated to cover it all.

The band made an appeal over the theft, including an appearance on the BBC.

However, on 29 June, Rana saw a social post on the BBC about a van that had caught fire in a two-vehicle crash on the southbound carriageway of the A46, near Leicester, at about 04:10 BST, following a police chase.

Rana said he was "completely shocked and horrified" to learn the car driver, a man in his 20s, suffered serious injuries and their stolen van was involved.

"It's had such a wider impact, not just our equipment," he said.

"We're thinking of them night and day. Our prayers and thoughts are going out to them."

Leicestershire Police said on Tuesday that it understood the BMW driver was still in hospital receiving treatment.

Rana said since the crash and subsequent fire, police had not confirmed the contents of the van.

"If there was anything in the van, that will surely be destroyed by now because of the high-speed crash and then catching fire," he said.

However, he said the band was informed officers had recovered one speaker from a house at an undisclosed address.

"It's very frustrating. It is very painful, and infuriating," he added.

A spokesperson for Leicestershire Police said: "We can confirm that inquiries are continuing to be carried out to establish if the equipment was in the van at the time of the collision.

"The aggrieved has been informed of this update."

Rogacs, of Acacia Close, is due to appear at Leicester Crown Court on 17 August for a plea and trial preparation hearing. He is currently on bail.

Leicestershire Police has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct watchdog over its involvement in the crash.

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