Pune, 4th June 2026: The death toll in Kharadi hit-and-run case has increased to two after three-year-old Deepraj Tushar Kolhe succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at a private hospital late on June 2.
The child had been critically injured in a high-impact collision involving a Mahindra Thar SUV and a motorcycle on the night of May 31.
The accident had earlier claimed the life of 35-year-old Pawan Pandurang Bharambe, who died from severe injuries sustained in the crash. Deepraj's mother, Priya Tushar Kolhe, who was also injured in the accident, remains under treatment and is reported to be in critical condition.
According to police, the incident took place around 10:30 pm on Grand Road near Samarth Nagar Lane No. 3 in Kharadi. Bharambe was riding a Bajaj Pulsar motorcycle with Priya Kolhe and her son Deepraj when a Mahindra Thar SUV allegedly came from the opposite direction on the wrong side of the road at high speed and crashed head-on into the motorcycle.
The impact threw all three riders onto the road, causing severe injuries. Bharambe suffered fatal head injuries, while Priya and Deepraj were rushed to hospital for emergency treatment.
Police investigations revealed that the SUV driver, identified as Prasad More of Wagholi, allegedly removed the vehicle's front and rear number plates after the crash before fleeing the spot without helping the victims or informing authorities.
After receiving information from the Police Control Room, police personnel and local residents shifted the injured victims to Manipal Hospital. Bharambe was later referred to Sassoon General Hospital, where doctors declared him dead before treatment could begin.
Using the SUV's chassis number, police traced the vehicle and established its ownership details. A case has been registered at Kharadi Police Station against the accused under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Motor Vehicles Act for rash and negligent driving, causing death, destruction of evidence, dangerous driving and fleeing the scene of an accident.
Following Deepraj's death, police are updating the charges to reflect the second fatality. Teams have been deployed to trace and arrest the accused driver, who remains absconding. The investigation is being carried out by Sub-Inspector Rahul Khandu Kolape under the supervision of senior officers.