Junnar Forest Arson: One Arrested, Sent to Two-Day Custody; Pune Forest Department Issues Strict Warning
Junnar, 8th March 2026: The Forest Department has stepped up its vigil against arsonists after a major fire was intentionally set in the Khamgaon reserved forest. One individual, identified as Karan Haribhau Pardhi from Mangonewadi (Khamgaon), has been arrested and remanded to two days of police custody by the Junnar Court.
The incident occurred on the evening of March 7, 2026, in Forest Compartment No. 84 of the Khamgaon forest area. While on a routine patrol around 7:00 PM, Forest Guard Aalme and his team spotted fires breaking out at several locations. They observed four individuals actively setting the forest ablaze.
Following a swift chase, the forest officials managed to apprehend Karan Haribhau Pardhi and Akshay Santosh Jadhav, though two others managed to escape under the cover of darkness. The fire caused significant damage to the local flora and wildlife habitats. A case has been registered under Section 26 (1) (b) of the Indian Forest Act, 1927.
On March 8, 2026, Pardhi was produced before the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) in Junnar. Representing the state, Range Forest Officer (RFO) Pradeep Chavan and Special Assistant Public Prosecutor S.S. Avchar argued for custody. The court subsequently granted two days of police custody for further investigation.
RFO Pradeep Chavan emphasized that trespassing and setting fires in government-reserved forests are non-bailable offences, punishable by up to two years of imprisonment and a fine of 10,000.
The operation was conducted under the guidance of Ashish Thakre (Conservator of Forests, Pune), Prashant Khade (Deputy Conservator of Forests, Junnar), and other senior officials. To prevent future incidents, the department has installed trap cameras and deployed drones for surveillance across Junnar, Ambegaon, Shirur, and Khed talukas. A reward has also been announced for citizens who provide confidential information regarding forest arsonists.
