POCSO Case Accused from Beed, National-Level Kho-Kho Player Allegedly Dies by Suicide in Pune
Pune, 21st August 2026: National-level Kho-Kho player Tukaram Karande from Beed, who was wanted in a POCSO case, allegedly died by suicide in Pune on Wednesday, police said.
Karande had represented Maharashtra in national-level Kho-Kho competitions after securing selection on two occasions. About 15 days ago, he was arrested after allegedly being found carrying an illegal firearm on Barshi Road. He was later released on bail in the firearm case.
Karande had earlier been booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act at Shivajinagar police station in Beed following a complaint by a minor girl. According to the complaint, Karande had befriended the girl while visiting a village school in Beed taluka to train students. After she later came to Beed for education, he allegedly blackmailed her with the help of his friends.
The girl also alleged that Karande and his friends assaulted her at a cafe while allegedly threatening her with a firearm. Following registration of the case, Karande fled Beed and subsequently went to Pune.
Karande and his friends had approached the court seeking anticipatory bail in the POCSO case. The hearing, scheduled for August 18, could not take place and was subsequently fixed for August 21.
Police are investigating whether stress over the pending POCSO case and the possibility of not securing anticipatory bail due to the firearm case contributed to Karande taking the extreme step. Further investigation is underway.
