Mumbai Police Constable Vidip Dilip Jadhav, a resident of Kalwa near Thane, died on Wednesday morning in the air crash that also claimed the life of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, with whom he was deployed as part of the security detail. Jadhav had been working with Pawar for the past four years, and served with the Mumbai Police since 2009. He is survived by his wife Sandya, daughter, a son, and his parents.
Jadhav lived in Surya Nagar, a quiet locality near Vitawa in Kalwa, where neighbours remember the family with affection. “The entire family shifted here nearly 20 years ago. They are a happy, close-knit family… very cordial people,” said Chanda Ringe, who is close to the family. “All of us in this neighbourhood are very close, like an extended family. Vidip was rarely home because of work, but Sandya and I spent a lot of time together.”
A photo of the Jadhav family
Speaking about the tragedy, Ringe said, “What happened is utterly shocking and unbelievable. We are still trying to process it. It must be incredibly difficult for Sandya and the children.”
“His daughter is a Std VII student, and his son, the younger of the siblings, study at a government school in Thane. They are very smart children and were very close to their father,” said Rushi Borse, a neighbour.
Poster outside Surya Nagar in Kalwa. Pics/Aishwarya Iyer
Echoing the sentiment, Ringe said, “Even though he served with the Mumbai Police, he never bragged or showed his authority. He was a very humble person. Whenever we had festivities in our chawl, his family was always present, but Vidip was usually busy with work. On the rare occasions he did manage to come, he would behave just like everyone else.”
Before his deployment with Pawar, Jadhav was posted in Naigaon, Dadar, with the Protection Department of the Mumbai Police.
The colony where Jadhav resided
On Wednesday morning, Jadhav’s wife Sandya left for work as usual, at the medicine counter of a government hospital. “She has a background in pharmacy and had recently joined the hospital. When the news broke, she was unaware and was still at work. It was Vidip’s parents who first heard about the incident on television. We called Sandya and informed her, after which she rushed home,” said Vidya Shane, a neighbour and close friend of Sandya.
Shane added that initially, Jadhav’s parents found it difficult to believe the news, and went into shock after they began receiving phone calls. Several police personnel and officials arrived at the residence around 10.30 am to escort the family to Pune.
Jadhav’s body will be taken to Satara, his native place, for last rites.
10.30
Time in morning cops took family to Pune
Voices
Chanda Ringe, a neighbour
The entire family shifted here nearly 20 years ago. They are a happy, close-knit family… very cordial people
Vidya Shane, a neighbour
It was Vidip’s parents who first heard about the incident on television. We called Sandya and informed her, after which she rushed home
