Suspicious death of undertrial prisoner

Dies after four-hour delay in treatment at Kalyan Aadharwadi jail

Kalyan: In a shocking and disturbing incident, an undertrial prisoner lodged at Adharwadi Jail in Kalyan died under suspicious circumstances, triggering serious allegations of negligence against the prison administration. The deceased, identified as Rishikesh Pawar, reportedly complained of severe chest pain on Tuesday evening but was allegedly denied timely medical treatment for nearly four hours. His family claims that this delay proved fatal, raising grave concerns about the functioning and accountability of jail authorities.

Rishikesh Pawar, a resident of Dombivli, had been arrested in connection with a case registered at the Hill Line Police Station in Ulhasnagar. Following his arrest, the court had remanded him to 14 days of judicial custody, after which he was lodged in Adharwadi Jail, Kalyan a facility that has been in the news previously for various controversies.

According to sources, Pawar began experiencing intense chest pain around 5:00 PM on Tuesday. Despite the seriousness of his condition, he was not immediately shifted for medical treatment. It was only around 9:30 PM that he was taken to Ulhasnagar Central Hospital. In a further alarming detail, he was reportedly transported not in an ambulance, but in a private Bolero vehicle belonging to the jail administration.

Family members allege that had Pawar received timely medical attention, his life could have been saved. Questioning the delay, they have demanded to know why no action was taken for hours despite repeated complaints of chest pain.

The situation escalated when enraged relatives rushed to the hospital upon learning of Pawar’s death, leading to chaos and protests. The family has demanded strict action against the officials responsible and warned of launching an agitation if justice is not delivered.

While Speaking to ‘The Perfect Voice’, Pawar’s friend Yogesh Jaiswal made serious allegations against jail staff. He claimed that despite repeated pleas to shift Pawar to a hospital, a jail staff member identified as “Baba” Raju Por allegedly ignored their requests and responded insensitively. Jaiswal further alleged that there is a lack of proper medical arrangements inside the jail, and accused certain staff, including a doctor, of negligence and misconduct. He also made shocking claims about the availability of contraband substances such as alcohol and drugs inside the jail.

Demands have been raised for an inquiry against senior officials, including Jail Superintendent Pradeep Jagtap, medical officer Mangesh Jadhav, and staff member Raju Por, along with calls for their immediate suspension pending investigation.

In another concerning development, Superintendent Pradeep Jagtap reportedly avoided responding to media queries, refusing to take calls despite repeated attempts. This silence has further fueled suspicions and raised questions about transparency.

Pawar’s body has been sent to J.J. Hospital for post-mortem examination. The exact cause of death will be determined only after the autopsy report is released.