Pune Police Nab Youth Duo for Stealing Bikes ‘Just for Fun’; 10 Stolen Motorcycles Seized
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Viman Nagar, 20th April 2025: The Detection Branch (DB) of Airport Police Station, Pune City Police, has arrested two 21-year-old youths for allegedly stealing motorcycles “for fun”—and recovered 10 stolen two-wheelers worth ₹7 lakh.
The accused have been identified as Manish Singh Jitendra Singh Bhadoria, a resident of Santnagar, Lohgaon, and Kartik Anil Phulpagar, from Gurudwara Colony, Lohgaon. Both were apprehended in Sanjay Park, where they were found with a stolen Royal Enfield Bullet.
Acting on a tip-off from a confidential informant, policemen Dadasaheb Barde and Gyandev Awari launched a search operation. Under the guidance of API Vijay Chandan, a team laid a trap and caught the duo red-handed with the stolen Bullet motorcycle.
Initial investigations revealed a startling motive—the two confessed to stealing bikes “for enjoyment,” not for resale or monetary gain. However, further inquiry led police to ten stolen motorcycles linked to the accused.
Of the total stolen vehicles:
- Seven cases were traced back to thefts within Airport Police Station limits.
- One case belonged to the Kothrud Police Station area.
- Two motorcycles are currently being investigated to trace their origins.
All ten vehicles—collectively worth approximately ₹7,00,000—have now been seized.
The operation was conducted under the leadership of senior police officials including:
- Manoj Patil, Additional Commissioner of Police (East Region)
- Himmat Jadhav, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 4)
- Pranjali Sonawane, ACP, Yerwada Division
- Ashalata Khapre, Police Inspector (Crime), Airport Police Station
The detection team that carried out the successful operation comprised API Vijay Chandan and police personnel Rupesh Pisal, Shailesh Naik, Rakesh Chandekar, Ankush Jogdande, Yogesh Thopte, Dadasaheb Barde, Gyandev Awari, Hariprasad Punde, Lalu Kahe, Girish Nanekar, and Rupesh Todekar.
Further Investigation Underway
The accused remain in custody, and police are probing whether the duo is connected to other vehicle theft cases in Pune or nearby areas. Officials have urged vehicle owners to report missing vehicles promptly and verify the recovered motorcycles.
