Pune, 14 November 2025: In a rare and striking protest, a Junnar resident, Ganesh Sangade, used a pair of donkeys to tow his Mahindra Thar to a dealership in Wakad, Pune, after months of unresolved mechanical complaints. The unusual sight quickly drew crowds and social media attention.
Sangade had purchased the Thar only a few months earlier but said the vehicle began giving trouble soon after he brought it home. Despite several visits to Mahindra Sahyadri Motors near the Hinjawadi Flyover, he claimed the service centre failed to fix the problems.
Determined to make his grievance visible, he organised a short procession with dhol-tasha drummers and dragged the SUV to the showroom as a symbolic act of protest. The spectacle went viral, sparking widespread online discussion about the state of after-sales service in the automobile industry.
He said he bought the Thar believing it would be rugged and reliable, but instead faced recurring issues like water leakage, poor mileage that forced him to refuel daily, rust patches on the body, and loud engine noise that made driving uncomfortable.
While some social media users joked about the unusual demonstration, many sympathised with him, saying such protests reflect rising frustration among customers who feel their concerns are not addressed properly.