When a Minister’s Son’s Private Trip to Bangkok Turns into a Kidnapping Case in Pune Due to Fear and Miscommunication
Pune, 11th February 2025: Rushiraj Sawant, son of Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena leader and former Health Minister Tanaji Sawant, was found safe at Pune airport last night after briefly being reported missing. The incident, which sparked concern among family members and prompted a police investigation, was resolved when Rushiraj returned around 9:30 PM.
Initially reported missing from Pune yesterday afternoon, Rushiraj had planned to travel to Bangkok on a private plane for business purposes. However, his failure to inform his family about the trip led to widespread concern and a police complaint.
Rushiraj’s brother, Giriraj Sawant, provided details about the incident to the media. According to him, Rushiraj sent a WhatsApp message around 3:30 PM stating he would be away for two days, then turned off his phone. Unable to contact him, the family filed a missing person report at Sinhagad Road Police Station.
The family’s worry stemmed from the unusual nature of Rushiraj’s departure, as they typically communicate about travel plans. Giriraj explained that Rushiraj had recently returned from an eight-day business trip to Dubai and was planning to visit Bangkok. However, fearing family objections to another immediate trip, he decided to leave without informing anyone.
Giriraj later discovered that Rushiraj was travelling with two friends, a fact unknown to the family at the time of filing the police complaint. The situation was resolved with the assistance of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, and Union Minister of State Murlidhar Mohol, who helped trace the private plane headed to Bangkok.
Giriraj dismissed rumours of family disputes, stating that Rushiraj’s actions were due to personal reasons and fear of parental disapproval for another business trip so soon after returning from Dubai. He emphasized that there were no family conflicts and criticized opposition parties for allegedly spreading misinformation about the incident.
