KOLHAPUR: District judge R N Ambatkar of the additional district court at Ichalkaranji in Kolhapur district, succumbed on Friday morning to his injuries sustained in a road accident on March 21 while he was taking a post-dinner stroll near his residence at Yadrav-phata on the outskirts of Ichalkaranji.
The judge breathed his last at 8am on Friday, a day after his 55th birthday, and is survived by his parents, wife and two daughters. The Ambatkar family hails from Manchar near Pune.
Archana Pawar, the medical director of City Hospital in Kolhapur, told TOI, "He had head injuries. Initially, he showed signs of recuperating on the basis of his strong vitals. However, in the last two days his vitals kept deteriorating and on Friday morning he passed away. He was on ventilator support system all these days and was critical when he was admitted."
Ambatkar was hit by a motorcycle from behind and suffered head injury in the resultant fall after hitting hard on the road surface. The 44-year-old motorcyclist, Anil Ramchandra Jadhav, who was returning home at Jambhli village from his workplace in Ichalkaranji, too had sustained serious injuries and was unconscious for a few days before regaining consciousness.
The Shahpur police in Ichalkaranji police had arrested Jadhav on charges under section 279 (rash driving) and 338 (act endangering life and personal safety of others) after he was discharged from hospital post-treatment. After a day in police custody, a local court had ordered Jadhav’s release on bail on medical grounds.
“We will soon take a call on invoking additional charges under the Indian Penal Code and the Motor Vehicles Act against Jadhav,” a Kolhapur district police officer said. The police have ruled out any foul play behind the accident.
