A disturbing incident following a road accident in Versova, Mumbai, has raised critical questions regarding police protocols during medical emergencies. Sharad Kadam, a 73-year-old retired businessman, suffered a sudden stroke while driving, which caused his car to collide with another vehicle. Instead of receiving immediate emergency medical transport, Kadam was allegedly detained at the Versova police station for nearly five hours after officers mistook his stroke-induced speech impairment for alcohol intoxication.
The Collision and Initial Misdiagnosis
On the morning of July 25 at approximately 9:00 AM, Sharad Kadam was driving through Versova when he unexpectedly experienced a stroke. Losing control of his vehicle, his car struck another automobile, which was being driven by a medical doctor. Versova police personnel arrived at the scene following a complaint lodged by a police constable, who alleged that Kadam smelled of alcohol. The stroke had impaired Kadam's speech, causing him to slur his words. However, both the responding police officers and the driver of the other vehicle reportedly disregarded his advanced age and physical condition, concluding that he was driving under the influence.
Five-Hour Detention and Procedural Non-Compliance
Following the accident, police transported Kadam directly to the Versova police station rather than a healthcare facility. Relatives revealed that no breathalyzer test was administered at the station. Under established legal procedures for suspected drunk driving, law enforcement is obligated to escort a suspect to a hospital for mandatory blood alcohol testing prior to any police station booking. A relative who practices as an attorney arrived at the station and observed Kadam collapsing onto the floor while struggling to speak. Despite her warnings about his medical state, officers insisted on proceeding with the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) for rash and negligent driving.
A 12-Hour Treatment Delay and Medical Outcome
After being held at the police station for nearly five hours, Kadam was finally taken to Cooper Hospital for a blood alcohol test post-FIR registration. Police claimed that Kadam informed attending doctors at Cooper Hospital that he had consumed alcohol, though the hospital's official blood test report remains pending. Recognizing the gravity of his deteriorating condition, his family arranged for his immediate transfer to Nanavati Hospital at around 8:00 PM that evening. Subsequent medical evaluations conducted at Nanavati Hospital confirmed zero traces of alcohol in his system. By the time appropriate neurological treatment commenced, nearly 12 hours had elapsed since the onset of the stroke, causing irreversible damage that left the right side of his body paralyzed. He remains critical in the ICU.
Family Outrage and Demands for Accountability
Kadam lives by himself in Versova, as his wife and son reside in Canada. The incident has provoked strong reactions from his family and local representatives. On July 29, Rohan Rathod, a corporator from Andheri West and Kadam's nephew, publicly criticized the authorities and the other driver for neglecting obvious stroke indicators. Rathod emphasized that "delaying critical medical aid caused the right side of his body to become paralyzed." Furthermore, local Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Amit Satam addressed a formal letter to Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Purushottam Karad, demanding strict disciplinary measures against the Versova police officers involved. Satam noted that when he questioned Senior Inspector Deepshikha Ware of the Versova police station regarding the delay in medical aid, no clear explanation was provided.
