Pune Police Conduct Biggest-Ever Combing Operation in Budhwar Peth Red Light Area
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Budhwar Peth, 11th February 2026: In what is being described as the “biggest action” to date in the area, the Pune City Police conducted a massive combing operation in the Budhwar Peth Red Light Area on Wednesday, February 11, 2026.
Acting on the orders of Commissioner of Police Amitesh Kumar to curb illegal activities and misconduct in the red light district, the operation was a joint effort by the Crime Branch and Zone-1 Police.
Massive Deployment
The sheer scale of the operation involved a heavy police force deployed under the guidance of two Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs). The team included:
8 Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs)
19 Police Inspectors
55 Assistant/Sub-Inspectors
375 Police Constables/Personnel
Operation Details
During the combing operation, police teams checked 41 buildings in the area. A total of 426 women and 290 men were checked within the locality. Additionally, 5 Nakabandi (blockade) points were set up at strategic exits, where another 459 men and 32 vehicles were inspected.
Drug Seizure
During the blockade near Hotel Chetak on the public road (Survey No. 1058, Budhwar Peth), police apprehended a suspect identified as Rameshwar Bibhishan Birajdar (31).
Suspect Details: Resident of a room in Ganraj Hotel parking, Bajirao Road; Native of Tambarwadi, Ausa, Dist. Latur.
Seizure: He was found in unauthorized possession of 7 grams of Charas (valued at ₹3,500) and 3 injections (valued at ₹55).
Action Taken: A case has been registered at Faraskhana Police Station (Crime Reg. No. 26/2026) under sections 8c and 20(b)(ii)(A) of the NDPS Act.
Suspected Illegal Immigrants and Minors
In a significant development during the search, the police found two suspected Bangladeshi women and several minor girls. For their safety and security, they have been taken into the custody of the Faraskhana Police Station. A detailed verification process is currently underway to ascertain their nationalities and backgrounds, Joint Commissioner of Police Ranjan Kumar Sharma said.
The operation was executed under the top brass of the Pune City Police, including CP Amitesh Kumar, Joint CP Ranjan Kumar Sharma, Addl. CP (Crime) Pankaj Deshmukh, and DCP (Crime) Nikhil Pingle.
The ground execution was led by DCP (Zone 1) Krushikesh Rawale alongside ACPs Anuja Deshmane (Faraskhana), Shailesh Sankhe (Crime-1), Shankar Khatke (Crime-3), Ajay Parmar (Sinhagad Road), Rahul Avare (Swargate), Sangita Alphonso Shinde (Lashkar), and Sunil Jaitapurkar (Yerwada).
