Nagpur: A routine Sunday morning walk ended in tragedy when a speeding car allegedly driven by a drunk motorist mounted a footpath near Japanese Garden and fatally knocked down a 74-year-old man before scraping along the forest office compound wall for nearly 60 metres.The victim, Kailash Saundhiya, a retired Mayo Hospital clerk and resident of Awasthi Nagar in Mankapur, suffered fatal head injuries in the crash that occurred between 6am and 6.15am. Police have arrested the driver, 32-year-old Tushar Kakde of Prashant Nagar, and booked him for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, along with offences related to rash and drunk driving.According to family members, Saundhiya had left home around 5.30am for his daily walk, a routine he had followed for years. He would walk from Japanese Garden Square towards the rear gate of Lok Bhavan along the forest office compound and return home by around 7.30am.Police said Kakde was driving a taxi permit car (MH-31 GD0088) towards Old Katol Naka. He was accompanied by the vehicle owner’s son, Yash Chahande, and another passenger, Himanshu Raut. Investigators learnt that the group had stopped for poha at Shankar Nagar Square earlier in the morning. Police suspect they had consumed liquor before the crash and are also probing allegations of street racing.Preliminary investigations suggest that after crossing Japanese Garden, Kakde lost control of the vehicle near the forest office compound. The car allegedly swerved onto the footpath, smashed into the compound wall, lost its left-side door and window, and continued scraping the wall for nearly 60 metres before striking Saundhiya from behind.The impact hurled the elderly man several metres through the air before he landed headfirst on the road. The loud crash drew morning walkers and residents to the scene.“The road and footpath are usually crowded with walkers and fitness enthusiasts every morning. Fortunately, many others managed to escape,” an eyewitness said.Raut sustained serious injuries and was trapped inside the damaged vehicle. Rescue teams later shifted him to hospital.Saundhiya was rushed to Mayo Hospital in a critical condition but was declared dead by doctors. Passers-by informed his family about the accident. His nephew, Chetan Saundhiya, reached the spot soon after. “He was almost gone when we reached,” Chetan said.A forensic team examined the scene and collected evidence, while the damaged car was seized.Based on Chetan’s complaint, police registered an FIR alleging that Kakde was driving at high speed and under the influence of alcohol. The case has been registered under Sections 105 and 281 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 184 and 185 of the Motor Vehicles Act.Senior Inspector Sarang Mirashi said Kakade was driving under the influence of liquor and that investigators were examining the possibility of racing. “The accused is in custody, and arrest formalities are being completed. Police will ensure a conviction,” he said.Police are continuing investigations to reconstruct the crash sequence, determine whether other vehicles were involved and establish the extent of the driver’s intoxication. For Saundhiya’s family, a familiar morning walk on a route he had traversed for years ended in a devastating loss.
