Pune Court Takes Action Against Police Misconduct
A Pune court has issued a significant order directing the Kothrud police station to register a First Information Report (FIR) against police personnel accused of physically assaulting and using casteist slurs against three women. The order was passed by Additional Sessions Judge S K Bhalerao on November 11, 2025, marking a crucial development in a case that has drawn widespread attention.
Details of the Harassment Incident
The case originated from events that unfolded on August 1, 2025, when a police team from Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar arrived in Pune searching for a 23-year-old woman who had left her home due to alleged harassment by her husband and in-laws. The missing woman had initially stayed with a 28-year-old social worker in Kothrud before moving to a paying guest accommodation.
Around 2:30 PM on August 1, the Damini Squad of Kothrud police station, accompanied by officers from Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, questioned three women at their Kothrud residence, including the complainant social worker. The women were subsequently taken to the Kothrud police station for further inquiry.
The victims alleged that police personnel in civilian clothes trespassed into their home, harassed and threatened them. At the police station, they claimed they were physically assaulted and subjected to abusive and casteist remarks. The incident sparked outrage when it was highlighted on social media by activists and politicians.
Legal Proceedings and Political Reactions
The complainant, a professional social worker, approached the court seeking directions to register an FIR against multiple police personnel, including an assistant police inspector, women police constables, a police havaldar, and a retired police officer. She sought action under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the SC & ST Prevention of Atrocities Act.
Political figures quickly became involved in the case. NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar held meetings with senior Pune city police officials demanding action against the accused officers. Dalit leaders Prakash Ambedkar and Sujat Ambedkar from Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi also condemned the police for allegedly making casteist comments against the women.
Despite the serious allegations, the Pune city police had initially claimed in a written response on August 2, 2025, that their prima-facie inquiry found no substance in the complaint and therefore no offence could be registered against the police personnel.
The court's recent order overruling this decision represents a significant victory for the victims. The court has specifically directed that the investigation be conducted through an officer of the rank of assistant commissioner of police, ensuring a higher level of scrutiny and accountability.
This case highlights ongoing concerns about police conduct and the treatment of women and marginalized communities within the justice system. The court's intervention demonstrates the judiciary's role in ensuring that complaints against law enforcement are properly investigated, regardless of the accused persons' positions.
