Pune: Two Cops Held Responsible After 78-Year-Old’s Theft Complaint Was Recorded as Missing Property
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 12th August 2026: The Divisional Police Complaints Authority, Pune Division, has held two personnel attached to Vishrantwadi Police Station responsible for lapses in handling a theft complaint filed by a 78-year-old retired citizen.
The authority has recommended an inquiry and appropriate disciplinary action against Senior Police Inspector Kanchan Jadhav and woman police constable J. K. Kamble.
According to the documents, complainant Sharad Narayan Jadhav, a resident of Yerawada, visited the Union Bank of India’s Vishrantwadi branch on July 18, 2025. He reportedly withdrew ₹60,000 and later deposited ₹50,000 at the Bank of India’s Vishrantwadi branch. He then travelled by autorickshaw from Phulenagar to the Mental Hospital junction, accompanied by his friend, Shirole.
Jadhav, who requires a walker and assistance while walking, allegedly took some time to get out of the autorickshaw. The driver reportedly drove away before he could retrieve his belongings. The bag allegedly contained approximately ₹27,000 in cash, a ₹20,000 ICICI Bank demand draft, bank passbooks, cheque books, spectacles and other important documents.
Jadhav approached Vishrantwadi Police Station at around 5.23 p.m. the same day. He alleged that the police asked him to wait for two days and assured him that the money and documents would be recovered. After waiting for several days, he requested the police to examine CCTV footage from the area and trace the autorickshaw driver.
However, the complaint alleged that the police recorded the matter only as a property-missing report instead of registering a theft case. It further alleged that CCTV footage was not secured and that the autorickshaw driver’s statement was not recorded.
After he was allegedly denied information, Jadhav sought records under the Right to Information Act and later filed an appeal. The matter was subsequently heard by the Divisional Police Complaints Authority. Advocate Vishal Shinde represented Jadhav during the proceedings, while the police submitted their report.
In its decision, the authority observed that the circumstances indicated that the matter required a proper police investigation. It also held that the failure to register a theft case and preserve potentially relevant CCTV footage amounted to serious negligence. The authority rejected the explanation that no action could be taken merely because CCTV footage was unavailable or the autorickshaw driver’s statement had not been obtained.
The authority concluded that the allegations against Senior Police Inspector Kanchan Jadhav and Police Constable J. K. Kamble were proved and recommended that they be subjected to an inquiry and appropriate punishment.
Copies of the decision were directed to be sent to the relevant senior police and government authorities, including the Pune Police Commissioner and the Home Department.
