Contractor held for driving drunk sends proxy to court

A civil contractor, who was arrested in a drunk-driving case, was again arrested on Saturday for allegedly cheating a local court by making one of his employees impersonate him during the hearing.

A civil contractor, who was arrested in a drunk-driving case, was again arrested on Saturday for allegedly cheating a local court by making one of his employees impersonate him during the hearing.

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The matter came to light when the employee, who was serving judicial custody, died of a heart attack.

The Mulund police learnt about the impersonation while handing over the body to the real accused’s family.

According to the police records, Srikant Kamble (27), who owns a civil contracting firm, was held on July 9 for driving drunk at Ghatkopar.

He was fined Rs 2,500 and asked to appear before the Vikhroli metropolitan magistrate’s court.

On Tuesday, the police said, Kamble allegedly made his employee Deepak Paikrao (21) stand in front of the magistrate, posing as him.

The court sentenced Paikrao to five days in judicial custody and he was sent to jail.

On Wednesday afternoon, Paikrao complained of chest pain and was transferred to the Thane civic hospital, police officials said. However, he suffered a heart attack and died.

Police sources said that Kamble had been held earlier for drunk driving and knew how the law worked.

Paikrao’s sister Maya told Hindustan Times said he had been working with Kamble for the past two years.

She added that on Tuesday morning, Kamble had come to their house and asked Paikrao to accompany him. Kamble returned in the evening, and told Paikrao’s family that he had gone out of town for some work for two to three days, Maya said.

“But on Thursday, Kamble came to our house and told us that my brother was dead. He also threatened to send us too to jail for misleading the law if we told the police,” Maya claimed.

Paikrao’s elder sister Varsha, claimed Kamble’s family had offered them money to take back the case. “But we will fight till the end and make Kamble pay for his deeds,” Varsha added.

Kamble’s family refused to comment on the case.