Pune: Two Arrested for Brandishing Toy Pistol in Viral Video on Mumbai-Bangalore Highway

Warje, 2nd November 2024: In a bizarre incident of public intimidation, two individuals were arrested by the Pune City Police for brandishing a Diwali toy pistol and attempting to terrorize fellow commuters near the Vadgaon Bridge area on the Mumbai-Bangalore bypass. The incident, which occurred on Thursday, 31st October, came to light after a video of the act was circulated widely on social media.

The two individuals arrested have been identified as Akshay Ankush Gaikwad (27), a resident of Dangat Patil Nagar, Shivne, NDA Road, and Sunil Chandrakant Shinde (28), a resident of Ramnagar, Warje. Both face charges for causing public alarm with a fake weapon. The complaint in this case was lodged by Police Sub-Inspector Akshay Patil at the Sinhagad Road Police Station.

According to police, Gaikwad and Shinde were traveling on a two-wheeler from Vadgaon to Warje Bridge. During the ride, one of the men used the Diwali toy pistol to threaten and intimidate other drivers on the road, as seen in the viral video. The footage captured the men yelling and brandishing the fake weapon, mimicking a real firearm in an attempt to frighten other commuters.

Upon viewing the video on social media, the Sinhagad Road Police launched a search for the two suspects. After identifying them, the police detained Gaikwad and Shinde. Upon investigation, it was revealed that the pistol was not a real firearm but a Diwali toy pistol used for ticking sounds, commonly played with during the festival.

Senior Police Inspector Raghavendra Singh Kshirsagar of the Sinhagad Road Police Station confirmed that the duo had been charged for creating public fear with a fake pistol. “Even though the weapon was a Diwali toy, their actions caused unnecessary panic and could have led to a more dangerous situation,” he said.

Both individuals have been booked under relevant sections for public intimidation and misuse of a fake firearm. Further investigation is underway to determine if the two have been involved in similar activities in the past.