Pune Man Drives SUV Without Tyre, Dodges Police; Detained Near Council Hall

Pune, 4th December 2025: A 48-year-old man from Lullanagar was caught driving his SUV at high speed without a front tyre and allegedly under the influence of alcohol, narrowly avoiding traffic police who signalled him to halt. He was later detained after the vehicle came to an automatic stop near Council Hall in the early hours of Monday.

The incident occurred around 11.30 pm on November 30, when the SUV was spotted travelling from Yerawada towards the Bund Garden bridge before heading onto Mangaldas Road. The left front tyre had come off the wheel, leaving the vehicle moving dangerously on bare metal.

Traffic personnel carrying out a naka bandi near Wadia College attempted to intercept the SUV, but the driver accelerated instead, according to the FIR.

Beat marshal Aniket Mane from the crime branch later filed a complaint at Bund Garden Police Station. “The car finally stopped near Council Hall, and we detained the driver from there,” a police officer said.

Footage recorded by two-wheeler riders trailing the SUV went viral on social media on Tuesday, showing sparks and loud screeching as the vehicle swerved through the road.

Police said the driver admitted he realised the tyre had deflated during his journey towards Camp but continued driving. “He told us he ignored the issue and kept going even after the tyre came off completely,” the officer added.

The man was allowed to go after being served a notice, police confirmed.

This is the third major case of alleged drunk driving reported in the city in recent days, prompting renewed calls for stricter enforcement on Pune roads.