While the retired bank employee is suspected to have suffered a heart attack, his daughter alleged that he was pushed by a traffic constable, leading to his death; traffic department denied this

A 60-year-old man passed away after he collapsed while chasing after a tow truck hauling his scooter away. While the retired bank employee is suspected to have suffered a heart attack, his family claims that he collapsed after he was pushed by a traffic constable. While the traffic police have denied this charge, they have started an inquiry and have transferred the accused constable until the matter is decided.



Madhukar Kasare (60) ran after the tow truck as it was hauling his scooter away, which had important documents inside

Madhukar Kasare (60), a resident of Kalyan, had just retired from his job at the Bank of Maharashtra a month ago. At around 11 am on Wednesday morning, he went to Mahalaxmi hotel near Kalyan railway station to meet a friend and figure out how to apply for pension, since it was his first time. When his friend arrived, Kasare went to collect his documents from the bike’s glove compartment and saw the traffic van towing his bike away. He gave chase, asking the traffic cops to stop and at least let him take his documents, but then he collapsed. Kasare was shifted to Rukmini Bai hospital in Kalyan west, where he was declared dead.

The allegation

His daughter Nisha, however, alleges that he was pushed by a traffic constable, leading to his death. “He saw that his vehicle was being towed by the traffic cops. He asked them to stop as he wanted to take his important documents. But he was pushed and then fell down, which was noticed by the passers-by,” stated Nisha in a complaint letter to the Mahatma Phule police station.

The counter

On the other hand, the traffic department said the allegation is completely false and baseless. They claimed to have CCTV footage from the camera on the towing van that shows Kasare running behind, with no one pushing him. The department further claimed that the cop — identified as Constable Sharad Suryavanshi — never pushed Kasare, but tried to revive the elderly man with some water.

However, based on the complaint, an inquiry has been initiated and will be led by Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Chandrashekar Gole. Until then, Constable Suryavanshi has been transferred to the traffic control room. Meanwhile, the doctor’s report on the cause of death is also awaited. “An inquiry is been initiated and investigation is on,” confirmed Senior Police Inspector Anil Pawar, from the Mahatma Phule Police station. Traffic DCP Dr Rashmi Karandikar, also confirmed the same and added that the allegation was false.

Another official said, “The complainant was not present at the scene, but we have spoken to auto rickshaw drivers who were there and they said that the deceased was never pushed. We have also spoken to the deceased’s former colleagues, and they said that he had suffered from heart attacks in the past as well.”