Elderly Man Detained by Mumbai Police After Stroke Misidentified as Drunk Driving

A 73-year-old man in Mumbai, who suffered a stroke while driving, was reportedly held at the Versova police station for nearly five hours under the suspicion of drunk driving following a minor accident last week. This unfortunate incident has raised serious concerns regarding the police's handling of medical emergencies, as the delay in treatment has left the man partially paralyzed. According to reports from the Times of India, the man, identified as Sharad Kadam, was not given a breathalyzer test at the scene, which his family claims contributed to the misunderstanding of his condition. The family asserts that Kadam's slurred speech was misinterpreted as a sign of intoxication rather than a medical emergency.

The situation escalated when Kadam was taken to Cooper Hospital after the police filed a First Information Report (FIR) against him for rash and negligent driving, as well as for drunk driving. It was reported that Kadam himself told the medical staff at the hospital that he had been drinking, which complicated his case further. However, a subsequent blood alcohol test conducted at Nanavati Hospital, where he was transferred later that evening, revealed no alcohol in his system. The police are still awaiting the results from the initial Cooper Hospital test, which has left many questioning the procedures followed by law enforcement in such cases.