Pune: ATS Arrests Youth from Nagpur for Planting Bomb at Hadapsar’s Usha Kiran Hospital
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Hadapsar, 15th May 2026: In a major breakthrough in the Usha Kiran Hospital bomb scare case, the Pune unit of the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested a youth from Nagpur for allegedly planting an explosive device inside a washroom at the hospital in Pune’s Hadapsar area.
The accused has been identified as Shivaji Rathod. Officials said preliminary investigation suggests the act was linked to past enmity. The bomb-like object was safely isolated and later neutralized by the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) of Pune City Police.
According to the First Information Report (FIR No. 0347) registered at Hadapsar Police Station, the incident came to light on May 13 at around 7 pm. Hospital director Dr Vilas Gaikwad and administrative coordinator Pramod Bhagwat Bhalke (28) were conducting routine rounds in the first-floor ICU ward when they noticed a light switched on inside the adjacent men’s washroom.
On entering the washroom to switch it off, they allegedly discovered a suspicious device hidden beneath a washbasin. The object reportedly consisted of four white cylindrical tubes wired together and attached to a running digital clock.
Police said that when Dr Gaikwad carefully moved the object, a ticking sound was heard and the clock displayed “07:21”, triggering panic over a possible explosion inside the hospital premises.
Fearing danger to critically ill patients and visitors, the hospital staff acted immediately. Dr Gaikwad reportedly placed the device inside an empty saline cardboard box, while Bhalke carried it outside the hospital and kept it in an open area opposite the building.
The police were alerted immediately, following which personnel from Pune City Police and the BDDS rushed to the spot and secured the area. The improvised explosive device (IED) was later transported to the Gliding Centre in Hadapsar, where it was destroyed through a controlled detonation.
An FIR was registered at 2:11 am on Thursday against an unidentified person for allegedly attempting to endanger lives, damage property, and disrupt essential medical services.
Investigators had questioned around 17 to 18 people and examined CCTV footage and technical evidence during the probe. Police were also looking into reports of an earlier dispute involving Dr Gaikwad and a neighbouring housing society.
The accused has now been arrested by the ATS from Nagpur. Further investigation is underway to determine the exact motive and whether anyone else was involved in the conspiracy.
The case has been registered under Section 4 of the Explosive Substances Act, 1908, along with Sections 109 (attempt to murder), 125 (act endangering life or personal safety of others), and 288 (negligent conduct with respect to explosive substance) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
