Pune: The Hinjewadi minibus fire incident, which claimed four lives and injured six others, has taken a shocking turn. Police investigations confirm that the fire was intentionally set by the driver, Janardhan Hambardekar (56), out of revenge. Following a thorough probe, the Hinjewadi Police have registered a case of murder against the accused driver.
The Plot Behind the Deadly Fire
According to the police, Hambardekar was enraged at three employees of his company after his salary was cut during Diwali and he was repeatedly humiliated at work. Out of revenge, he carefully planned and executed the fire with the intention of harming them.
To carry out his plan, he:
Carried a matchbox from home
Used benzene solution and other flammable chemicals
Soaked cloth pieces in the solution and placed them under the seats
As the minibus reached Hinjewadi Phase One, he struck a matchstick, igniting the fire and causing an explosion.
Survivors and Ongoing Investigation
Ironically, the three employees he targeted survived with severe burns, while four innocent passengers lost their lives in the arson attack.
The Hinjewadi Police are now investigating:
Whether the driver had accomplices
If he made prior arrangements to prevent passengers from escaping
Authorities are conducting a detailed inquiry into the incident.