Pune Police Officer Suspended After Tenant’s Belongings Removed Illegally in Kharadi

Kharadi, 20th November 2025: Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar has suspended an Assistant Police Inspector (API) from Kharadi Police Station for allegedly failing to prevent a landlord and a social worker from unlawfully entering a rented flat and removing a tenant’s belongings. The suspension order states that the officer’s “irresponsible behaviour” had the potential to tarnish the image of the police force.

The suspended officer has been identified as API Mubarak Nabilal Shaikh, who was posted at Kharadi Police Station at the time of the incident.

According to the complaint filed by Gaurav Shivshankar Lakhani, 35, a resident of Gera Park View I, South Wing, Kharadi, the issue began after he received a notice from his landlord Rajkumar Bansal, 64, asking him to vacate the flat within a month. Lakhani had been staying in the flat since April 27, 2025.

Lakhani told police that he had asked for additional time to find another accommodation. However, on October 31, he discovered that the landlord had locked the flat without informing him and at a time when no one was home. He then approached Kharadi Police Station on November 1 to lodge a complaint.

At the police station, both landlord Rajkumar Bansal and social worker Prabha Karpe were present. Lakhani said he requested eight more days to arrange an alternative residence. However, the landlord allegedly refused and warned him to vacate immediately or his belongings would be removed.

Later that evening, at around 8 pm, Lakhani returned home to find all his belongings placed in the parking area near the building lift. He alleged that Bansal and Karpe had entered the flat without permission, removed his household items and locked the premises again.

Following his complaint, Kharadi Police registered a case against Bansal and Karpe. In the subsequent departmental inquiry, senior officials noted that API Shaikh failed to prevent the accused from committing the act despite being in a position to intervene. The inquiry report stated that the officer did not attempt to dissuade them and “acted irresponsibly,” prompting disciplinary action.

Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar has since issued suspension orders against API Shaikh for dereliction of duty.