State Police Complaints Authority Holds Pune Police Officers Responsible for Delayed Action on Noise Pollution Complaint

Pune, 10th February 2025: The State Police Complaints Authority has held Pune Police officers accountable for failing to register an immediate case after receiving complaints about firecrackers being burst at midnight at a marriage lawn in Bibwewadi. Citing the Supreme Court’s ruling that the right to sleep is a fundamental right, the authority emphasized the need for strict enforcement of noise pollution laws, especially during festivals, weddings, and celebrations. It has also recommended that the state government issue clear directives to ensure prompt action on such complaints.

The case stems from a complaint filed by Arvind Ramchandra Patil against four then-serving police officials:
Suhas Bavche, then Deputy Commissioner of Pune Police (Zone 5)
Sunil Kalgutkar, then ACP of Wanawadi Division
Kumar Ghadge, then Senior Inspector of Bibwewadi Police Station
Yash Borate, then Sub-Inspector of Bibwewadi Police Station
Patil alleged that these officials failed to act swiftly on a complaint regarding the bursting of firecrackers at midnight, disturbing residents’ sleep.

On December 19, 2019, at around 12:15 am, complainants heard loud firecrackers being set off in the premises of a marriage lawn near their residence. They immediately reported the issue to the police control room and provided video evidence of the fireworks. The next day, a formal complaint was lodged at Bibwewadi Police Station, citing violations of the Environment Protection Act and the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules.

However, the complainants alleged that Bibwewadi Police did not conduct a proper investigation. When the police failed to register a case, Patil escalated the matter to DCP Suhas Bavche, who forwarded it to ACP Sunil Kalgutkar. The complaint was eventually dismissed due to a “lack of evidence,” based on a report by Sub-Inspector Yash Borate.

Dissatisfied with the closure of the case, the complainants approached the Bombay High Court, which directed the police to take cognizance of the matter. On March 11, 2022, a case was finally registered at Bibwewadi Police Station against an unknown person. However, the complainants claimed that the investigating officers failed to record the video evidence, retrieve CCTV footage from the venue, or interview witnesses present at the wedding.

Following this, the Judicial Magistrate (First Class) Court ordered a re-investigation. The Bibwewadi Police conducted a fresh probe but later submitted a report stating that the accused could not be identified. Patil then took the matter to the State Police Complaints Authority.

The State Police Complaints Authority has stressed the need for timely and effective action against noise pollution violations. It has recommended several measures, including:
Sensitizing police officers about environmental laws and their enforcement.
Providing noise level measuring equipment to police to help determine violations.
Incorporating officers’ performance on environmental law enforcement into their evaluation reports.
Taking action against officers under the Maharashtra Police Act for failure to act on complaints.
The authority has urged the state government to implement these recommendations to ensure stricter enforcement of noise pollution regulations and uphold citizens’ right to a peaceful environment.