A court in Pune has sent a 49-year-old IT professional to two days of police custody following a tragic incident where he allegedly drove under the influence of alcohol, resulting in the death of a valet attendant at a popular pub. The fatal accident occurred on Sunday afternoon at the upscale Toit Pub and Restaurant in Kalyani Nagar.
Details of the Tragic Incident
According to the First Information Report (FIR) lodged at Yerwada police station, the accused, identified as Pratap alias Pratapsing Bharatrao Daingade, arrived at the pub in his Volkswagen car around 2 pm on Sunday. Police investigations indicate he had already consumed alcohol elsewhere before arriving. The FIR states that after drinking further at the establishment, Daingade began moving around the hotel in an inebriated state.
Concerned staff members, recognizing his severe intoxication, advised him not to drive. They escorted him to the parking lot and offered alternatives, including arranging a private cab or a driver for his vehicle. Daingade refused this assistance and insisted on getting behind the wheel himself.
The Fatal Moment and Immediate Aftermath
As he attempted to drive out of the hotel premises, Daingade allegedly lost control of the car. He pressed the accelerator instead of the brake, causing the vehicle to ram into the counter at the valet parking area. The impact trapped Satendra Moti Mandal (30), a valet attendant originally from Bihar residing in Pune's Wadgaonsheri, between the counter and a wall.
Mandal was left unconscious and bleeding profusely at the spot. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead. A police team, upon receiving information, reached the location and took Daingade into custody. A subsequent medical examination confirmed he was driving under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident.
Legal Action and Official Statements
Prakash alias Peter Menezes, the operations manager of Toit, filed the official complaint. The police have booked Daingade under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Motor Vehicles Act for culpable homicide not amounting to murder and drunk driving. Assistant Police Inspector Mahesh Lamkhade, the investigating officer, produced the accused before a court on Monday, which granted a two-day police custody remand.
In an official statement released on Sunday, Toit Pub expressed profound grief: "We are extremely sad to report that there was an incident outside our restaurant this afternoon around 3 pm, resulting in the loss of life of one of our colleagues, Satendar Mandal. The entire team at Toit deeply mourns this incident." The management assured full cooperation with the police investigation.
The victim's brother was informed by the hotel staff, and the legal process is now underway. Daingade, a resident of Dhanori area in Pune, works at the Commerzone IT Park. This incident has once again highlighted the deadly consequences of drunk driving in the city.
