Pune: A man was brutally assaulted by three individuals in broad daylight in Pune’s Dhayari area over non-payment of fees related to his brother’s rehabilitation treatment. The incident occurred around 11:30 AM on March 31 near the Anukiran Wine Shop on Sinhagad Road. A case has been registered at the Nanded City Police Station against the accused.
According to the police, the complainant, Suraj Arun Gaikwad (30), a resident of Lonare Vasti in Dhayari, had admitted his brother, Akash Gaikwad, to the Aradhya Rehabilitation Center in Khanapur on March 15 in an effort to help him overcome alcohol addiction. The center, operated by Siddharth Pawar, had agreed upon a fee of ₹4,000 for a 10-day stay, along with ₹1,000 for travel expenses—totalling ₹5,000. Akash was discharged on March 25, but the payment remained pending.
On the morning of March 31, Suraj visited the Anukiran Wine Shop near Umbrya Ganpati Chowk when he encountered the accused — Siddharth Pawar, Kartik alias Pappu Balakrishna Lonare, and Bablu Kasale, all residents of Dhayari. The group confronted Suraj regarding the pending payment. When he informed them that he did not have the money, he was physically assaulted.
According to police reports, Siddharth and Kartik initially began assaulting Suraj with punches and slaps. They then dragged him toward a roadside lemon tree, where Bablu Kasale joined in and continued the attack. During the altercation, Kartik Lonare allegedly pulled out a sickle, hurled verbal abuse at Suraj, and threatened to kill him if the pending amount was not paid on the spot.
Due to fear of retaliation, Suraj initially refrained from filing a police complaint. However, after continued threats, he approached Nanded City Police Station on April 5 and lodged an official complaint.
All three accused have been booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. The case is currently under investigation by Police Sub-Inspector Shivaji Bunange.
