Youth Beaten Over Unpaid Rehab Fees in Pune’s Dhayari Area; Case Registered Against Three
Dhayari, 6th April 2025: A 30-year-old man was allegedly brutally assaulted in broad daylight in the Dhayari area on Sinhagad Road after failing to return money taken from his friends to pay for his brother’s addiction treatment. The Nanded City Police have registered a case against three accused in connection with the incident.
The victim, Suraj Arun Gaikwad, a resident of Lonare Vasti in Dhayari, lodged the complaint against Siddharth Pawar (residing at Garmal, Raikarnagar, Dhayari), Kartik alias Pappu Balkrishna Lonare (Lonare Vasti, Dhayari), and Bablu Kasale (also from Dhayari).
Assault Over Rehab Fee Dispute
According to the police, Suraj’s brother, Akash Gaikwad, is addicted to alcohol and was admitted to an addiction treatment center owned by Siddharth Pawar in Khanapur on March 15. A payment of ₹5,000 was agreed upon — ₹4,000 for ten days of treatment and ₹1,000 for transport expenses.
However, on March 31 around 11:30 AM, while Suraj was passing through Umbarya Ganapati Chowk in Dhayari, the accused trio allegedly intercepted him outside a shop and demanded the pending payment. When Suraj told them he didn’t have the money, they allegedly started beating him on the street.
One of the accused, Kartik alias Pappu Lonare — who is reportedly known locally as a criminal on police record— threatened Suraj with a sharp weapon, saying, “I am the Dada of this area. Don’t mess with me. If the rehab fee is not paid, I’ll kill you.”
As the assault unfolded, passersby gathered at the spot, causing panic. The accused allegedly tried to intimidate the onlookers, creating a commotion. Suraj managed to flee from the scene and initially did not file a complaint out of fear of retaliation.
However, concerned about his safety, he later approached Nanded City Police Station and filed a formal complaint. The case is now being investigated by Police Sub-Inspector Shivaji Bunge.
