Inquiry Clears 70-Year-Old Andheri Stroke Victim in False Drunk Driving Case

An internal police inquiry has revealed that a drunk driving case registered by the Versova police against 70-year-old Andheri resident Sharad Kadam was filed without scientific evidence, following medical tests that confirmed zero alcohol presence in his system.

Kadam was booked on July 25 after his car brushed against a female veterinary doctor. While police initially treated the incident as drunk driving, an official report from Cooper Hospital returned "NIL" alcohol content. A separate test arranged the following day by his nephew, Rohan Rathod, at Nanavati Hospital also confirmed the absence of alcohol.

Kadam's family maintained from the beginning that the incident was caused by a sudden stroke rather than intoxication. Rathod noted that Kadam suffered paralysis on his right side and was shifted to a nursing home for continuous monitoring following his discharge from Nanavati Hospital. Kadam's wife and son travelled from Canada to Mumbai on July 26 to attend to him, with his wife noting that doctors have not guaranteed a full recovery.

The inquiry conducted by an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) highlighted major procedural lapses. The Cooper Hospital doctor who initially issued a note claiming Kadam was intoxicated admitted to writing it after Kadam merely nodded, without performing any blood test. Witnesses, including lawyer and friend Nitin P, corroborated that Kadam was not drunk and had experienced a stroke.

The FIR was initially registered based entirely on the doctor's note without any blood sample collection. Later blood samples confirmed no alcohol was present. Additionally, two traffic constables assigned to administer a breath analyser test left for duty after failing to get Kadam to blow into the device.

MLA Ameet Satam confirmed that DCP (North Zone-1) Purushottam Karad received the ACP report and will forward it to the Joint Commissioner of Police (Law & Order). Satam stated that a departmental inquiry is warranted against the personnel involved in framing Kadam in a false case.