Pune: Police investigations into the Bopodi hit-and-run case are revealing chilling facts. The car driver who struck a police officer in Bopodi area, parked his vehicle a short distance from his home and went to sleep, believing the police would not trace it back to him. However, police reviewed CCTV footage, identified the vehicle through its registration number, and arrested the driver.
The suspect driver, identified as Siddharth Raju Kengar, a resident of Aundh, has been taken into custody. Kengar is employed at a car showroom, while the vehicle involved in the accident is registered to Mukesh Atwal. The police are currently searching for the car owner, according to Deputy Commissioner of Police Vijaykumar Magar.
According to police reports, deceased Police Constable Samadhan Koli had been transferred to Khadki Police Station from the traffic branch just 15 days prior.
On Sunday (July 7) night, he was on duty as a beat marshal, accompanied by Police Constable Sanjog Shinde. Shinde was riding the motorcycle with Koli seated behind him.
Around 1:30 AM, they visited a checkpoint in Bopodi and posted a selfie on the police app to mark their presence. Shortly after, a speeding car hit their motorcycle from behind near an underpass.
CCTV footage revealed that the driver had parked the car far from his home and went to sleep after the accident. The investigation, led by Senior Police Inspector Girish Dighavkar, resulted in Kengar's arrest.
Tragic Details
Upon impact, Constable Koli was thrown onto the car's bonnet, while Constable Shinde fell to the side of the road. The driver dragged Koli for a distance before he fell and got caught under the car's wheels. The driver fled the scene without stopping.
A passing motorist alerted the police control room, and within ten minutes, beat marshals from the Mariaai Gate Police Outpost arrived at the scene. Both officers were taken to the Khadki Cantonment Board Hospital, where Koli was declared dead. The critically injured Shinde was transferred to Ruby Hall Clinic.
Koli leaves behind his wife, daughter, son, parents, and brother. Originally from Jalgaon district, Koli began his career with the railway police before transferring to the city police force.
Before his transfer to Khadki Police Station, Koli was assigned to the Chatuhshrungi traffic division, primarily managing traffic at SPPU junction. He was known for his excellent work and cheerful demeanor.
"He was always smiling and very diligent in his duties," said Shafique Pathan, Police Inspector of the Chatushrungi Traffic Division.
