Viman Nagar Spa Raid Death Sparks Demand for FIR Against Pune Police, Protest at Sassoon Hospital
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 24th February 2026: A 30-year-old woman died after allegedly jumping from the second floor of a spa in Viman Nagar during a police raid, triggering allegations of misconduct, protests outside Sassoon Hospital and demands for a criminal case against the officers involved.
The incident occurred on February 23 when a team from Vimantal Police Station conducted a raid at The Roots Spa in Viman Nagar. According to police, the action was based on specific inputs. Officers claimed that when they reached the premises, the door was locked from inside. As they knocked, a woman and the spa manager allegedly jumped out of a window in an attempt to escape.
The woman sustained severe head injuries and was declared dead. The manager, Hussein Rehman Sheikh, 39, suffered a serious leg injury and is undergoing treatment at a hospital. Police said four other women were rescued from the spa during the operation.
However, the deceased woman’s husband has alleged that she died under suspicious circumstances during the raid and has demanded registration of an FIR against the police personnel involved.
Speaking at the mortuary of Sassoon Hospital, where the post-mortem examination was conducted, he said his wife had been working at the spa due to severe financial hardship to support their three minor children. “Until a proper FIR is registered, we have decided not to take custody of my wife’s dead body,” he said.
Through his lawyer, Advocate Tosif Shaikh, the husband has sought registration of an FIR under Sections 105 (culpable homicide), 108 (abetment of suicide) and other applicable provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
The lawyer argued that under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956, women found at such premises are to be treated as victims of exploitation and not as accused merely due to their presence. He alleged that if the woman was subjected to fear, coercion or humiliation during the raid, leading her to take an extreme step, the concerned officers must be held accountable.
The family has also demanded immediate seizure and forensic examination of all CCTV footage related to the raid, recording of statements of all witnesses and police personnel present at the scene, access to the complete post-mortem report, fixing of individual responsibility of each officer involved, and appointment of an independent or high-level inquiry.
“This is not merely about one family’s loss. It raises serious concerns regarding accountability, rule of law and protection of women’s rights,” the husband said.
Several social activists and lawyers gathered outside Sassoon Hospital to support the family and demand transparency and strict legal action. Among those present were women’s rights activist Swati Gaikwad; advocates Kranti Sahane, Swapnil Girme, Mahesh Gawali, Aadil Datarange, Suraj Jadhav and Neha Pise; and social activist I.T. Shaikh.
An eyewitness alleged that after the fall, officers remained at the spot for nearly 20 minutes and did not immediately shift the injured to hospital in an ambulance or police vehicle. Police have denied the allegation, stating that both injured persons were taken to hospital without delay.
When contacted, Additional Commissioner of Police (East Region) Manoj Patil told Punekar News that an accidental death case has been registered and further action will be taken based on the inquiry.
The incident has intensified debate over police procedure during raids, the treatment of women at such establishments, and the need for independent oversight in cases involving custodial or raid-related deaths.
