‘Proxy’ sent by traffic offender dies in jail

Shrikant Baburao Kamble of Kannamvar Nagar in Vikhroli (E) was apprehended for drunken driving on July 9 night by Mulund traffic police. He was let off after he paid a fine of Rs 2,500 and was directed to be present in court on July 12,police said.

“Kamble did not appear in court but sent his employee,21-year-old Deepak Uttam Paikrao as a dummy on July 13. Normally our constable is present for identification on the date of hearing but since he sent Paikrao a day after he was supposed to attend court,the other constable on duty could not identify him. The court sent Paikrao to four-day simple imprisonment in Thane jail,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Nandkumar Chaugule.

According to Chaugule,Paikrao,a diabetic,complained of chest pain on July 15 while in custody and was taken to Thane City Civil Hospital. “Paikrao died of heart attack in hospital and later,during enquiries,we discovered about the switch,” an officer said.

Arelative of Paikrao said,“We went to claim Deepak’s body,but hospital authorities did not give us the body saying his name in the jail record was different. The body is still in the custody of jail authorities and we are co-ordinating with police to have it released for funeral rites,” said.

Seema,the mother of the deceased,said in her statement that Kamble had come around 7 am on July 10 to their residence and had taken Paikrao along. Kamble allegedly told her he was sending Paikrao out of town on some work and would return in about 3-4 days.

Mulund police have arrested Kamble for cheating.

“We will now start the practice of clicking pictures of offenders after their arrest and sending it along with our chargesheet to the court so that offenders do not send dummies on their behalf in such cases,” said Chaugule.