Pune: Mother Seeks Justice After 17-Year-Old Allegedly Assaulted by Auto-Rickshaw Driver While Helping Push Her Motorcycle
Reported by Shoaib Tadvi
Vishrantwadi, 5th August 2026: A Pune resident has alleged that her 17-year-old son was assaulted by an auto-rickshaw driver while helping push his mother’s motorcycle, which had run out of fuel, near Kekan HP Gas in Adarsh Colony, Tingre Nagar, on the evening of August 4. The family has demanded strict action against the accused.
According to Francisca D’Mello, her son had returned from his classes at around 8:20–8:30 pm when she asked him to help push her motorcycle to a nearby petrol pump after it ran out of fuel. She said the teenager was not riding the motorcycle but was walking alongside it and pushing it. Another motorcyclist voluntarily assisted by towing the stalled motorcycle from behind so they could reach the petrol pump more quickly.
D’Mello alleged that while her son was pushing the motorcycle, an auto-rickshaw driver approached him, began abusing him without any provocation, and repeatedly slapped him 10 to 15 times.
A Non-Cognizable (NC) Report (No. 461/2026) was registered at Vishrantwadi Police Station on August 4, 2026, under Sections 294(3) and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). According to the complaint recorded by police, the 17-year-old alleged that the accused assaulted him with his hands and abused him using obscene language. Police have recorded the registration number of the accused’s auto-rickshaw as MH-12 SK 3048.
The family has also submitted photographs that they claim show the accused and the auto-rickshaw involved in the incident.
“My son was not riding the motorcycle. He was only helping me by pushing my bike because it had run out of fuel. A passer-by on another motorcycle was simply helping by towing it from behind so they could reach the petrol pump. Despite this, the auto-rickshaw driver abused my son and repeatedly slapped him. My son did not even utter a single word because he was so scared. He is only 17 years old. I am a cancer survivor and am still undergoing treatment. I am only seeking justice for my son and request the authorities to take strict action against the accused,” said Francisca D’Mello.
Police have registered an NC complaint, and further action will be taken in accordance with the law.
