Pune: Man Who Sponsored Biryani for Goon Gajanan Marne During Police Escort Arrested

Pune, 30th May 2025: The Pune Police Crime Branch on Wednesday night arrested 40-year-old Vidhal Dhumal from Kothrud for allegedly aiding goon Gajanan Marne during his transfer from Yerawada Central Jail to Sangli prison earlier this year. Dhumal is accused of sponsoring a biryani feast for Marne and his associates during the police convoy’s journey.

According to officials, Dhumal is a known associate of the Marne gang and played a key role in organizing a halt at an eatery on the Pune-Satara highway, where mutton biryani was served not only to Marne’s supporters but also handed to the gangster inside a police van.

“On March 3, while Marne was being transported to Sangli jail, Dhumal led the convoy of supporters and arranged for food. He stopped at a roadside eatery and bought mutton biryani, which was then served to Marne inside the police vehicle in the presence of on-duty personnel,” said ACP (Crime) Ganesh Ingle.
A video of the incident—showing constables serving biryani to Marne—was widely circulated on social media, raising serious questions about the conduct of law enforcement officers during prisoner transfers.

Following the incident, Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar ordered disciplinary action and suspended an Assistant Police Inspector (API) along with four constables from the Crime Branch who were part of the escort team.

Marne had earlier been arrested on February 24 in connection with the assault of a software engineer during the Shiv Jayanti procession on February 19 along Karve Road. He was booked under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) and was being held in Yerawada Jail before being shifted to Sangli.

Police also revealed that a luxury vehicle was seen tailing the police van during the transfer, allegedly carrying more of Marne’s followers. Investigators are now probing the level of coordination between the gangster’s associates and some members of the police escort team.

Dhumal is currently in custody, and further inquiries are underway to determine the extent of his involvement in aiding Marne and undermining police protocol.