Pune, 23 July 2025: What began as a routine afternoon errand turned into tragedy for the Wagh family. Gopal Wagh (62), a resident of Balewadi, had stepped out to withdraw cash from an ATM on Sunday, July 20, but never returned home. His son Amit and daughter-in-law Pooja began searching for him late that night and circulated a message on WhatsApp requesting help from the public, stating that Mr. Wagh had gone missing.
By the next day, chilling details began to emerge. CCTV footage revealed that Mr. Wagh was struck by an auto-rickshaw while crossing the road near a Kotak Mahindra ATM at Balewadi Phata. The driver, seemingly alarmed by the growing crowd, told bystanders he would take the injured man to a hospital. However, instead of providing aid, the driver abandoned Mr. Wagh in a deserted area near Range Hills on Ganeshkhind Road.
Speculation arose that the driver may have feared backlash from the public or possible legal trouble. Some believe Mr. Wagh might have died before reaching the hospital, prompting the driver to flee the scene.
Amit Wagh, with police support, made tireless efforts to trace his father. Eventually, by evening, Mr. Wagh was found dead in the area where he had been abandoned. His death shocked the neighborhood, and sorrow quickly spread among the community. Locals questioned whether Mr. Wagh’s life could have been saved if timely medical attention had been given.
A post-mortem revealed that Mr. Wagh had suffered severe head injuries and died due to internal bleeding. The Baner Police have registered a case under IPC sections 105 and 238 for culpable homicide against an unidentified individual. The auto-rickshaw involved in the incident has been located, and police are actively searching for the driver.
Inspector Chandrashekhar Sawant confirmed the investigation is ongoing, and Assistant Inspector Anil Kekan is leading the probe. Mr. Wagh’s sudden death has left his family devastated, and the tragedy has raised broader concerns about the lack of public sensitivity and fear of legal repercussions when offering help during accidents.
This incident is more than just personal grief; it exposes a serious societal gap in compassion and the urgent need to address the stigma around helping accident victims.