Punit Balan Group donates Rs 5 lakh to Police Welfare Fund
Pune, 11th March 2025: Punit Balan Group (PBG) donated Rs 5 lakh to the Pune Police Welfare Fund for the second consecutive year on the occasion of the Fourth ‘Friendship Trophy’ Cricket Championship Tournament. The contest is organised for teams drawn from Pune-based Ganpati mandals, Navratra Utsav mandals and Dhol-Tasha pathaks.
PBG Director and Friendship Trophy Tournament Organiser Shri Punitdada Balan and Manikchand Oxyrich Director Janhavi Dhariwal-Balan and RMD Foundation Director Smt Shobhatai Dhariwal handed over a cheque for the sum to DCP Dr Sandeep Bhajibhakare. DCP Milind Mohite, DCP Himmat Jadhav, Film Actor Akash Thosar and other dignitaries were present.
Speaking on the occasion, PBG Director Punit Balan said, “The Pune Police Force has the responsibility to maintain law and order in the city. The Police Force also carries out its duty for peaceful Ganeshotsav and Navratrotsav.
“They are on duty 24X7 during the Ganpati Festival. Thus, citizens enjoy the festivities. PBG encourages artists and sportspersons in our society and supports them to achieve their aims. Similarly, we hand over funds to salute the extraordinary work done by police officers and personnel and to help their families.”
A friendly match was held between PBG and the Pune Force teams on the occasion of the Fourth ‘Friendship Trophy’. The PBG team easily defeated the Pune Police Force team by 55 runs. Batting first the PBG team scored 123 runs in 10 overs. Punit Balan played a fine knock of 26 (not out) runs. Moreover, Rahul Sathe 32, Ruturaj Veerkar 27 and Atish Kumbhar 21 (not out) shaped the inning of the PBG team.
Chasing 123, the Pune Police Force team could score only 68 runs.
Brief scorecard of the match:
Punit Balan Group: 123 for 4 in 10 overs (Punit Balan 26 not out, Rahul Sathe 32, Ruturaj Veerkar 27, Atish Kumbhar 21 not out, Prashant Gaikwad 2-15) won vs. Pune City Police Force: 68 for 8 in 10 overs (Vipul Gaikwad 17 not out, Abhijit Dhere 11, Ulhas Kadam 10, Kunal Bhilare 2-8, Aditya Karjatkar 2-8, Aniket Kumbhar 2-11); Man of the Match: Rahul Sathe
