In a tragic incident highlighting the deadly consequences of drunk driving, a software engineer in Pune caused a valet attendant's death after refusing help despite being heavily intoxicated. The accident occurred near a Kalyaninagar pub on Sunday afternoon, leading to the immediate arrest of the driver.
Engineer's Fatal Decision Despite Valet's Plea
Police investigations have uncovered a critical detail: before the fatal crash, another valet parking attendant had offered to drive the inebriated software engineer home or hire a cab for him. The accused, Pratapsinh Daingade (49), a team lead from Dhanori, flatly refused this assistance. According to the Yerawada police, Daingade was in such a drunken state that the pub itself had decided to stop serving him liquor. Enraged by this, he stormed out and insisted on driving himself.
The Crash and Immediate Aftermath
After getting into his car, Daingade lost control almost immediately. The vehicle hit valet attendant Satyender Mandal (30), killing him on the spot, before crashing into a wall. The Yerawada police arrested Daingade around 10 pm on Sunday. A case was registered against him under multiple sections, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder, rash and negligent driving, and driving under the influence of alcohol.
On Monday, the police produced Daingade before a magisterial court. While they sought a five-day custody to investigate where he consumed liquor before reaching the pub, check for possible drug influence, and examine his mobile phone, the court ordered his remand in police custody only until December 3.
Revelations from Police Custody
Senior Inspector Anjum Bagwan of Yerawada police station shared chilling details from the interrogation. Daingade confessed to consuming a large amount of liquor at his home in Dhanori before arriving at the restobar. He was so drunk that his memory of the events was hazy; he only recalled leaving in a rage after being denied more alcohol.
In a personal revelation that points to a deeper issue, Daingade told the police that his wife had divorced him due to his alcoholism. He currently lives with his parents. The police confirmed he was a occasional visitor to the pub where the tragedy unfolded.
This incident serves as a grim reminder of the irreversible damage caused by drunk driving, where a single reckless decision, despite clear alternatives being offered, has ended one life and irrevocably altered another.
