Pune: Businessman Rana Suryawanshi’s Attack Case May Take New Turn; Friends Under Police Scanner

Pune, 24th October 2026: The investigation into the attack on businessman Rana Suryawanshi, owner of Rana Ping Corporation, may take a new turn, with police probing whether three of his close friends had allegedly hired assailants to eliminate him.

The three friends were reportedly with Suryawanshi after the attack, including when he was shifted to a hospital for treatment. Police are examining their movements and possible involvement in the conspiracy, Baramati taluka police inspector Narayan Pawar said.

Two people have been arrested in the case — Parth Vasudev Awasthale (19), a resident of Pimpri Gavali in Khamgaon, Buldhana, currently staying in Karvenagar, Pune, and Dnyandev Mahadev Shinde (50), a resident of Vit in Karmala, Solapur, currently staying in Bhigwan.

According to the investigation, the three friends allegedly met at a roadside eatery near Daund and offered a contract of Rs 2 lakh to the assailants. They were travelling in a Defender SUV at the time, and the same vehicle was reportedly spotted near Suryawanshi on the day of the attack.

Police are examining CCTV footage to establish whether the three men were involved in the conspiracy. Their movements after the attack, including their presence with Suryawanshi at a hospital in Pune, have also come under scrutiny.

Photographs and videos of the trio with Suryawanshi have surfaced on social media. Police are investigating whether they met the assailants, arranged the contract and used the same vehicle at multiple locations.

Police have so far arrested Suryawanshi’s driver, Shinde, and alleged attacker Awasthale. Shinde allegedly paid Rs 2 lakh to the assailants, officials said.

Inspector Pawar said the three friends had not yet been detained, but their possible involvement was being investigated.