Pune Police Register FIR Over Ink Attack on NCP(SP) Spokesperson Vikas Lawande, Sangram Bhandare and Supporters Booked
Pune, 9th May 2026 : The Loni Kalbhor police have registered a case against Sangram Bhandare, Akshay Kanchan and 10 to 12 others for allegedly assaulting and throwing ink on Vikas Lawande, spokesperson of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar), police said on Saturday.
The incident has triggered a major political controversy in Pune district and heightened tensions over the ongoing row related to the Warkari movement.
According to police, Lawande was returning to Pune in a four-wheeler after attending a discourse programme at Mhatobachi Alandi when two vehicles allegedly began following his car and later intercepted it on the outskirts of the village.
As per the complaint filed by Lawande, two men stepped out of the vehicles, allegedly brandished pistols and forcibly dragged him out of his car. Soon after, around 10 to 12 persons allegedly assaulted both Lawande and his driver. The complaint specifically names Bhandare and Kanchan among the attackers.
Lawande further alleged that the accused dragged him towards a nearby crematorium, where one of them pointed a pistol at him while another threatened him by showing a firearm tucked at his waist. He claimed that Bhandare then came forward and threw black ink on him.
The complaint states that the accused threatened him, saying, “Why did you speak against our gurus? We will finish you with this pistol and take revenge for insulting our guru,” while continuing the assault.
Police said local residents rushed to the spot after noticing the commotion. Seeing a crowd gather, the accused allegedly fled the scene in their vehicles.
Based on Lawande’s complaint, Loni Kalbhor police have registered a case under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Sections 127(2), 189(2), 192(2), 190, 115(2), 351(2) and 352. Further investigation into the case.
