Pune Hospital Bomb Scare: Accused Planned Extortion to Fund Own Treatment
Pune, 15th May 2026: The motive behind planting a bomb-like object inside a private hospital in Hadapsar was to extort money from the facility, Pune Police said on Friday, hours after the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad arrested a 40-year-old man in connection with the case.
The accused, identified as Shivaji Rathod, was apprehended from the Shalimar Express near Nagpur while allegedly attempting to flee to West Bengal. The operation was carried out jointly by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad and the Railway Protection Force.
The case surfaced on Wednesday evening after a suspicious object was found inside the washroom of Ushakiran Hospital in Hadapsar. A Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad later neutralised the device.
According to Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, investigators identified Rathod through CCTV footage and technical evidence gathered during the probe.
“An empty timer case similar to the one used in the device was recovered during the search of his garment shop in Manjari. Based on surveillance inputs and technical analysis, teams traced and detained him in Nagpur,” Kumar said.
Police said Rathod had visited the hospital on May 10 for medical treatment but allegedly found the estimated expenses beyond his means. Investigators suspect he then planned to create panic at the hospital and extort money from the management to use the same amount for his treatment.
“Initial investigation indicates that he was under financial stress and intended to use the threat to demand money,” a police officer said. Kumar said the accused watched videos online to make a bomb-like object and then assembled the device that was kept at the hospital.
Kumar further also confirmed that preliminary investigation has confirmed that there were no explosives in the device. However, the samples from the place where it was neutralized have been sent for forensic to confirm the same.
Officials added that investigators are also probing whether Rathod acted alone or had assistance in assembling and placing the device.
The probe is being jointly carried out by the ATS, Pune Police and the city Crime Branch.
