Ad agency owner from Pune drugged and robbed on MSRTC bus to Mumbai, left unconscious on Dadar footpath

MUMBAI: In a shocking incident, Shailendra Sathe, a 57-year-old advertising and branding agency owner from Pune, was drugged and robbed during his journey to Mumbai. He was left unconscious on a footpath in Dadar, where he remained unattended for over 16 hours.

Incident Details

Hindustan Times reported that on the morning of June 14, Shailendra Sathe boarded a luxury Shivneri bus operated by Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) from Pune to Mumbai. During a stop at the food mall in Khalapur, Sathe had an ice cream and returned to his seat. A fellow passenger, who claimed to be traveling from Bengaluru to Mumbai via Pune, offered him a cup of coffee. “Though I generally do not drink coffee, I don’t know how I fell for it and drank it. I vaguely remember that he administered me an injection, after which I have no memory,” Sathe recounted.

Upon reaching the Dadar bus stand, the driver noticed Sathe and helped him alight from the bus, assuming he was drunk. Sathe was left on the pavement, unconscious and unattended. Meanwhile, his family, unable to reach him, started searching for him. His wife, Maithili, contacted the Chembur and Govandi police stations but received no information.

Discovery and Rescue

Knowing that Sathe always preferred traveling by Shivneri buses due to their cleanliness and comfort, Maithili called her brother, Vishal Karkhanis, who lives in Mumbai, and asked him to check at the Dadar bus stand. On June 15, Karkhanis visited the bus stand and inquired about Sathe. He was directed to a man lying on the pavement, who turned out to be his brother-in-law. Karkhanis immediately informed the family and rushed Sathe to Jupiter Hospital in Thane, where Sathe regained consciousness after around 80 hours.

Aftermath and Investigation

Upon regaining consciousness, Sathe realized he had been robbed of gold jewelry worth ₹3.25 lakh, including a pendant, chain, and bracelet. He also lost his mobile phone, a bag containing ₹9,000 in cash, and debit and credit cards. Sathe approached the Khopoli police in Raigad, who registered a case against an unknown accused under sections 328 (causing hurt by means of poison, etc., with intent to commit an offence) and 379 (theft) of the Indian Penal Code. The case was later transferred to Matunga police station.

Key Points:

• CCTV Evidence: After receiving the case papers, the Matunga police checked the CCTV footage and found that the accused who drugged Sathe had alighted at Chembur. Authorities are currently working to identify and apprehend the suspect.
• MSRTC Cooperation: MSRTC spokesperson Abhijit Bhosale confirmed their full cooperation with the police investigation, noting that footage from their CCTV cameras helped the police obtain a photo of the accused and determine that he got off at Chembur. Bhosale emphasized that their staff helped Sathe alight from the bus because he appeared drowsy but was walking. They did not realize what had happened to him.

Sathe’s Ordeal

Sathe described the incident as a near-rebirth experience. “I was lying on the pavement for 16 hours, unconscious and unattended while it was raining. I was dehydrated, but nobody bothered to check on me, not even the MSRTC staff who helped me alight from the bus and left me on the pavement for 16 hours. Fortunately, my wife and brother-in-law found me in the nick of time,” he said.

MSRTC has reiterated its warning to passengers against accepting food and drinks from unknown co-passengers, stressing the importance of vigilance and safety during travel.

The investigation continues as police work to bring the perpetrator to justice, ensuring such incidents do not recur in the future.