Pune: Woman Kidnaps 29-Year-Old Man for Forced Marriage; Rescued in Swift 4-Hour Cross-District Operation, 8 Detained
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Wagholi, 28th May 2026: In a swift and dramatic operation, the Pune City Police successfully rescued a 29-year-old man within four hours of receiving a kidnapping alert, uncovering a shocking plot where a woman allegedly masterminded the abduction to force the victim into marriage.
The police have arrested seven individuals, including the female mastermind, and detained a juvenile in conflict with the law.
The Abduction
According to official police sources, the incident occurred on the morning of May 27, 2026, at approximately 9:00 AM. The victim, Nilesh Laxman Bodre (29), a resident of Shindewadi, Haveli, was near the Shivneri Misal outlet opposite the H.P. Petrol Pump when he was brutally assaulted and bundled into a white Maruti Suzuki Ertiga car by a group of unidentified individuals. The kidnappers fled the spot with the intent to threaten his life.
The crime came to light later that evening when the victim’s brother, Ajay Laxman Bodre, contacted the Pune City Police Control Room at 9:29 PM (21:29 hrs) to report the abduction.
Swift Police Response and Cross-District Chase
Upon receiving the alert, Senior Police Inspector Sunita Rokade of the Lonikand Police Station immediately dispatched local investigation teams to the spot.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar and top brass mobilized five independent search teams comprising personnel from both the Lonikand Police Station and the Crime Branch.
By analyzing CCTV footage and utilizing advanced technical intelligence, investigators traced the getaway vehicle’s trajectory. Coordinating closely with local Crime Branch units in the Beed, Nanded, and Parbhani districts, the Pune Police tracked the suspects to Majalgaon in the Beed district. In a highly synchronized operation, the police intercepted the vehicle, rescued Nilesh Bodre unharmed, and apprehended all suspects within just four hours of the initial control room call.
The Shocking Motive: Forced Marriage
During subsequent interrogations, a bizarre conspiracy was revealed. The primary accused, Sonali Balaji Nirwal (27), a working professional from Parbhani, was desperate to marry Nilesh Bodre. When he did not agree, she conspired with her accomplices to kidnap him at gunpoint/force and coerce him into marriage.
List of Arrested Accused
The arrested individuals have been identified as:
Sudam Manik Tathe (23) – Resident of Vajur, Tal. Purna, Dist. Parbhani.
Sheikh Sohel Sheikh Afsar (21) – Resident of Walur, Tal. Selu, Dist. Parbhani.
Devidas Bhagwan Panjange (21) – Resident of Prasad Nagar, Dist. Parbhani.
Vaibhav Milind Shelke (22) – Resident near Anusaya Talkies, Gangakhed Road, Parbhani.
Sarang Bhagwanrao Kakade (33) – Resident of Aptur, Tal. Loha, Dist. Nanded.
Prasad Bandu Gavali (27) – Laborer, resident of Prasad Nagar, Dist. Parbhani.
Sonali Balaji Nirwal (27) – Employed in service, resident of Bhagyanagar, Dist. Parbhani (Mastermind).
Note: A juvenile in conflict with the law has also been detained in connection with the case.
Legal Action
The Lonikand Police have registered an FIR (Crime Register No. 205/2026) under Section 140(2) (Kidnapping or abducting with intent to secretly and wrongfully confine / harm) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. All the accused are currently in police custody, and further investigation is being carried out.
Police Team Commended
The successful rescue operation was guided by Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, Joint CP Sanjay Darade, Additional CP (Crime) Manoj Patil, DCP (Crime) Gauhar Hasan, DCP (Zone 5) Rajlakshmi Shivankar, DCP (Zone 7, Addl. Charge) Prashant Amutkar, and ACP (Lonikand Division) Nutan Pawar.
The on-ground rescue was successfully executed by Lonikand Sr. PI Sunita Rokade, Beed LCB’s Shivaji Bantewad, PI (Crime) Swati Khedkar, API Vijaya Wanjari, PSIs Arjun Bendgude, Tukaram Survase, and Makane, along with police staff members Swapnil Jadhav, Kailas Salunke, Sagar Jagtap, Ritesh Kale, Santosh Andure, Malhari Sapure, Shubham Chinke, Sudhir Shivle, Dinesh Markad, Ashok Shelke, Tushar Pawar, and Priyanka Pansare.
