Pune: Villoo Poonawalla Hospital COO Booked for Threatening Social Worker at Gunpoint Over Bill Discount Dispute in Hadapsar
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Hadapsar, 17th July 2026: A high-level police investigation has been launched after Dr. Arya Lajpatrai, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Villoo Poonawalla Hospital in Hadapsar, was booked for allegedly threatening a social worker at gunpoint. The altercation arose on Thursday evening during a dispute over obtaining a financial discount on the hospital bill of a deceased patient.
The accused has been identified as Dr. Arya Lajpatrai (58), Chief Operating Officer at Villoo Poonawalla Hospital, Hadapsar, Pune.
The incident took place on July 16, 2026, at around 7:30 PM inside the COO’s first-floor office cabin at the hospital.
According to the police, the complainant, Pratik Uttam Kamble (33)—a social worker residing at Jan Mohammed Street in Pune Camp—along with his cousin brother, Rushikesh Shailendra Kamble, visited the hospital to seek a discount on the treatment bills of Sushila Khude (60). Khude, who recently passed away, was the mother of Kamble’s friend, Raju Khude. The bill amount is about Rs 4.5 lakh.
While discussing the bill in the COO’s cabin, Dr. Lajpatrai allegedly became confrontational. The complainant stated:
“I will not reduce your bill by even a single rupee. Get out of here right now, or else I will shoot you right here.”
Dr. Lajpatrai then allegedly pulled out a pistol, pressed it against Kamble’s chest, and threatened him.
Following the confrontation, Kamble immediately reported the matter to the Hadapsar Police. An First Information Report (FIR) was registered on Friday, July 17, 2026 (Crime Register No. 466/2026).
Dr. Lajpatrai has been charged under:
Section 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS): Criminal intimidation by threatening to cause death or grievous hurt.
Section 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS): Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace.
Section 30 of the Arms Act.
The police have seized one pistol in connection with the crime.
Police Sub-Inspector Ratnadeep Birajdar is further investigating the case.
