Pune News: Nomination Papers Torn and Chewed During Election Scrutiny
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Dhankawadi, 31st December 2025: In an unusual incident during the election nomination process, Bharati Vidyapeeth Police have registered a case against a 34-year-old man for allegedly snatching, tearing, and chewing nomination documents at an election office in Dhankawadi.
The incident took place on December 31, 2025, between 2 pm and 2.30 pm at the Dhankawadi Sahakarnagar Election Decision Officer’s office in the Katraj area.
According to a complaint filed by Manisha Pratik Bhutkar (58), Assistant Election Returning Officer, the accused has been identified as Uddhav Lahu Kamble, a resident of Vivekananda Nagar Colony in Dhankawadi.
As per the FIR, during the scrutiny of nomination papers, Annexure 1 and Annexure 2 submitted by candidate Machindra Dhavale for Ward No. 36-A were in the custody of election official Haridas Solankar. At that time, Kamble allegedly entered the office, forcibly snatched the documents from Solankar, and tore them.
The complaint further states that the accused attempted to completely destroy the documents by putting the torn pieces into his mouth and chewing them.
Bharati Vidyapeeth Police have registered a case under Sections 132 (assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging duty) and 324(2) (mischief) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
