NCP (SP) Flags Rise in Pune Crime, Urges DGP to Act
Pune, 17th July 2026: The Pune city unit of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) has urged Maharashtra Director General of Police Sadanand Date to take immediate steps to strengthen law and order in the city, citing an alleged rise in crimes against women, cybercrime, drug abuse and organised criminal activities.
In a memorandum submitted to the DGP, the party claimed that crimes against women, including rape, molestation, kidnapping and domestic violence, have witnessed a steady increase in Pune. The delegation said that the issue of rising crime in the city has been already highlighted by Lok Sabha MP Supriya in her letter to the police commissioner.
The memorandum said 2,550 cases involving crimes against women were registered in 2023, while 2,631 such cases were reported in 2024. It also stated that 219 rape cases were registered in 2025 and 211 cases have been reported so far this year (2026). Similarly, it claimed that molestation cases have increased from 267 in 2025 to 379 in till now in 2026.
Referring to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, the party alleged that Pune ranks among the leading cities in the country in crimes against women and that the trend has continued to worsen. It also expressed concern over domestic violence, alleging an increase in cases of physical assault, mental harassment and dowry-related abuse against women.
The ‘Koyta Gangs’ have become active in Pune city, particularly in Zone 1, Zone 2 and Zone 6 limits of the commissionerate, where the number of crimes is reportedly higher. They claimed that incidents of attacks using sharp weapons have increased, creating fear among citizens. The leaders highlighted the influence of criminal gangs, which according to them has increased the gang war as various gangs are clashing with each other, resulting in increased crime rate.
The memorandum further raised issues such as cybercrime involving online defamation of women, circulation of obscene messages and misuse of artificial intelligence and deepfake technology. It also sought stringent action against human trafficking, particularly the trafficking of women.
The party alleged that drug abuse and rave parties have become increasingly common in Pune, claiming narcotics are easily available at several locations across the city. It also referred to recent allegations linking some police personnel to a rave party and demanded strict action against those responsible.
Highlighting the city’s worsening traffic situation, the memorandum said rising congestion and increasing road accidents require strengthening of the police force and better traffic management.
The party appealed to the DGP to take the issues seriously and initiate appropriate measures to improve public safety and law and order in Pune. The memorandum was signed by former MP Vandana Chavan, former mayor Ankush Kakde, former standing committee chairman Vishal Tambe, Pune city president Shrikant Patil, state youth wing president Manali Bhilare, and party leader at PMC Kaka Chavan.
