Pune Biker Cuts Through Murlidhar Mohol’s Convoy, Booked for Drunk and Rash Driving
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 15th September 2026: The Shivajinagar police have registered an FIR against a 32-year-old motorcyclist for allegedly riding under the influence of alcohol, driving recklessly, and cutting across the security convoy of Union Minister of State Murlidhar Mohol at Sancheti Chowk.
The action has also sparked public debate on social media, with citizens contrasting the strict action against the biker with the disruption caused when the Union Minister’s four-car convoy entered heavily congested streets near the Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Temple on the same evening.
Biker Booked for Rash and Drunk Driving
According to the police, the incident occurred around 8:30 PM on September 13 at Sancheti Chowk in Shivajinagar. Assistant Police Sub-Inspector (ASI) Ishwar Laxman Bhikule (50), attached to Pune City Police Headquarters and deployed on escort duty for Union Minister Mohol, lodged the formal complaint.
The accused has been identified as Shubham Vijay Vanit (32), a resident of Nana Peth, Pune.
According to the First Information Report (FIR No. 245/2026), Vanit was riding his two-wheeler in a zig-zag, reckless, and negligent manner. He overtook the convoy at high speed, cut dangerously close to the Minister’s vehicle, and endangered both motorists and pedestrians.
Shivajinagar Police booked Vanit under Section 281 (rash driving or riding on a public way) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 184 (dangerous driving), 185 (driving by a drunken person or under the influence of drugs), and 119/177 (disobedience of traffic signs/orders) of the Motor Vehicles Act. A notice under Section 35(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) was issued to him.
Medical Test Confirmed Alcohol Consumption: DCP Rawale
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 1) Krushikesh Rawale told Punekar News:
“The two-wheeler rider was driving recklessly and lost control, maneuvering zig-zag through traffic and cutting across the Minister’s security convoy. The on-duty security escort immediately reported the matter, and an FIR was registered at Shivajinagar Police Station.
The accused was taken to Sassoon General Hospital for a medical examination, where it was confirmed that he was under the influence of alcohol. His samples have also been forwarded to the forensic science laboratory for detailed analysis. Primary inquiries indicate he has no prior criminal background.”
Public Backlash Over Temple Gridlock
While police cracked down on the biker, the incident coincided with public frustration over the Minister’s convoy creating a bottleneck in central Pune.
Earlier that evening, around 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Union MoS Mohol had arrived in the heart of the city to inaugurate the festival lighting at the Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Temple. Videos surfaced online showing his four-car VIP convoy inching through teeming crowds of devotees and local shoppers, temporarily choking traffic.
Aggrieved citizens and devotees questioned the administration’s decision to permit a vehicular VIP convoy into heavily pedestrianised temple lanes during peak Ganeshotsav festivities, causing severe inconvenience to the public.
Responding to questions regarding the crowd congestion, DCP Rawale stated:
“During festival periods, thousands of devotees assemble for darshan, and VIP security movements do take place. Crowd management becomes delicate, and convoys occasionally slow down. Our personnel carefully pushed back the crowd and safely facilitated the movement to ensure order was maintained.”
The investigation into the Sancheti Chowk rash driving incident is being carried out by Police Sub-Inspector (PSI) Kathe of Shivajinagar Police Station.
