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‘If he had received timely help, we might not have lost him’: IAS brother of 22-year-old IIM student in Nagpur accident

A senior officer from Sonegaon police station told The Indian Express that a case of accidental death has been registered.

3 min readNagpurUpdated: Nov 25, 2025 09:33 AM IST

Family mourns death of 22-year-old in Nagpur accident

No official statement has been issued by IIM about the accident, said an official.

A day after the death of Anuj Pathak (22), an original resident of Uttarakhand and a student of IIM Nagpur in a road accident, family members and police offered more clarity on the incident. The Indian Express spoke with his brother Tanuj Pathak IAS, posted in Alipurduar district in West Bengal.

“If he had received immediate help, we might not have lost him,” Tanuj said.

Tanuj believes his brother succumbed to severe internal injuries after his bike crashed near Sonegaon. “He was badly hit in the ribs and chest. There was no head injury. The cause of death was internal bleeding. From what I know, he had about 15-20 minutes,” Tanuj said. He also said that he did not see any major lapses in the investigation, but felt that timely help could have saved his brother.

A senior officer from Sonegaon police station told The Indian Express that a case of accidental death has been registered. “The front lights of the vehicle were damaged, suggesting he might have rammed into something from behind. Very few eyewitnesses were present during the time of the accident,” the officer said.

Police said Anuj had gone out with four friends for dinner at a dhaba. After dropping two of them at their hostel, he was returning alone to pick up the remaining two when the accident occurred. With no CCTV cameras on the stretch, investigators believe he may have hit a moving vehicle, grazed one, or collided with the divider. “After the preliminary probe, this does not appear to be a clear case of hit-and-run,” the officer added.

Sources at the IIM told The Indian Express that Anuj was planning to visit his home soon. There were some festivities planned at his home town. However, Tanuj said all the festivities have now been called off.

An emotional Tanuj said their last meeting was this Diwali, when Tanuj took him to the airport. Anuj’s father works with the Ministry of Cooperation, while his mother is a school teacher.

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No official statement has been issued by IIM about the accident, said an official. However, he said that usually students are allowed to go outside the college campus on weekends since it is a residential campus.

A condolence meeting was held on the premises of the college on Sunday.

Ankita Deshkar

Ankita Deshkar is a Deputy Copy Editor and a dedicated fact-checker at The Indian Express. Based in Maharashtra, she specializes in bridging the gap between technical complexity and public understanding. With a deep focus on Cyber Law, Information Technology, and Public Safety, she leads "The Safe Side" series, where she deconstructs emerging digital threats and financial scams. Ankita is also a certified trainer for the Google News Initiative (GNI) India Training Network, specializing in online verification and the fight against misinformation. She is also an AI trainer with ADiRA (AI for Digital Readiness and Advancement) Professional Background & Expertise Role: Fact-checker & Deputy Copy Editor, The Indian Express Experience: Started working in 2016 Ankita brings a unique multidisciplinary background to her journalism, combining engineering logic with mass communication expertise. Her work often intersects regional governance, wildlife conservation, and digital rights, making her a leading voice on issues affecting Central India, particularly the Vidarbha region. Key focus areas include: Fact-Checking & Verification: As a GNI-certified trainer, she conducts workshops on debunking deepfakes, verifying viral claims, and using OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) tools. Cyber Law & IT: With postgraduate specialization in Cyber Law, she decodes the legalities of data privacy, digital fraud, and the evolving landscape of intellectual property rights. Public Safety & Health: Through her "The Safe Side" column, she provides actionable intelligence on avoiding "juice jacking," "e-SIM scams," and digital extortion. Regional Reporting: She provides on-ground coverage of high-stakes issues in Maharashtra, from Maoist surrenders in Gadchiroli to critical healthcare updates and wildlife-human conflict in Nagpur. Education & Credentials Ankita is currently pursuing her PhD in Mass Communication and Journalism, focusing on the non-verbal communication through Indian classical dance forms. Her academic foundation includes: MA in Mass Communication (RTM Nagpur University) Bachelors in Electrical Engineering (RTM Nagpur University) Post Graduate Diploma (PGTD) in Cyber Law and Information Technology Specialization in Intellectual Property Rights Recent Notable Coverage Ankita’s reportage is recognized for its investigative depth and emphasis on accountability: Cyber Security: "Lost money to a scam? Act within the 'golden hour' or risk losing it all" — A deep dive into the critical window for freezing fraudulent transactions. Public Health: "From deep coma to recovery: First fully recovered Coldrif patient discharged" — Investigating the aftermath of pharmaceutical toxins and the healthcare response. Governance & Conflict: "Gadchiroli now looks like any normal city: SP Neelotpal" — An analysis of the socio-political shift in Maoist-affected regions. Signature Beat Ankita is best known for her ability to translate "technical jargon into human stories." Whether she is explaining how AI tools like MahaCrimeOS assist the police or exposing the dire conditions of wildlife transit centres, her writing serves as a bridge between specialized knowledge and everyday safety. Contact & Follow X (Twitter): @ankita_deshkar Email: ankita.deshkar@indianexpress.com ... Read More

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