Pune, 1st December 2025: A tragic incident happened outside a popular resto-bar in Kalyani Nagar, Pune, on Sunday night when a valet parking assistant lost his life after being struck by a car driven by a drunk IT professional.
The accused has been identified as 49-year-old Pratap Dhaygude, a resident of Dhanori. The victim, Satyendra Mandal, worked as a valet at Toit Pune in the upscale Kalyani Nagar area.
According to police, Dhaygude arrived at the restaurant in an intoxicated state and consumed beer. The staff noticed his behaviour, stopped serving him, and even offered to arrange a cab. He refused their help, stepped outside, and entered his parked car.
A preliminary probe suggests Dhaygude lost control of the vehicle while attempting to drive. The car rammed into the parking counter, crushing Mandal, who was standing behind it. Staff members rushed him to the hospital, where he was declared dead by doctors.
Police from Yerwada Police Station reached the spot quickly and detained Dhaygude. Senior officers confirmed that a serious offence has been registered. Police said an FIR for culpable homicide not amounting to murder is being filed, and the accused will be produced before the court on Monday.
The case has again brought attention to Pune’s rising drunk driving problem, especially around nightlife hotspots such as Kalyani Nagar, Koregaon Park, and Baner. Despite repeated crackdowns, incidents involving drunk and reckless driving continue to cause fatal accidents across the city.
