He was killed in an encounter with the British police officer DSP R. Hall while he was underground with his team in the jungle of Siddhagad on 2 January 1943.

As soon as Vithal Kotwal returned to Matheran he got into socio political activities defying his father’s wish to carry on their family tradition.

He began helping people when cyclone hit entire western Mumbai shore and fisherman community got displaced.

Later in coordination with the local congress leader Rajaram alias Bhausaheb Raut, he got involved in politics and social work.

In 1940 he organized a peasants and workers congregation in Karjat where prominent political activists of the time Achyutrao Patwardhan, S. M. Joshi, Lalji Pendse attended.

Vithal Kotwal successfully fought the election for Matheran city council and became vice chairman in 1941.

Though motivated for the freedom struggle from his college days in Pune, Vithal became influenced by socio communist movement in the country.

They were about 50 in numbers including farmers and voluntary school teachers and his cousin brothers Pentanna and Dattoba Halde.

To counter the menace police announced cash award of rupees 2500 leading to the arrest of Bhai Kotwal.