Pune, 30 July 2025: A tyre repair shop near Navale Bridge in Pune was caught running a fraudulent operation targeting unsuspecting drivers, particularly solo women and couples. The scam came to light after activists from Patit Pawan Sanghatana’s Khadakwasla unit observed suspicious activity outside the shop.
According to the activists, the gang used to stop cars on the pretext that their tyres were under-inflated. Once the vehicle was brought to the shop, before the driver could step down, one of the workers would secretly pierce the tires using a small nail fitted in a ring worn on his finger, causing multiple punctures.
After creating the damage, the shop workers would insist that the customer needed to use a special tyre sealant liquid costing ₹900. If the customer refused, they would claim the tyre couldn’t be repaired otherwise. This tactic was used to coerce money from drivers, often by playing on their fear or lack of technical knowledge.
The incident was exposed when Sanghatana members noticed two men on a Pulsar bike repeatedly approaching vehicles and leading them to the shop. Initially, the activists ignored it, assuming genuine assistance. But when they saw two women in a car, whose tires were visibly fine, being stopped and taken to the shop by a man named Saddam Hussain, they intervened. On being confronted, the man fled.
Suspicious, the activists questioned the shop workers, who gave evasive answers. They immediately reported the matter to the police and handed over the two workers. A case has been filed, although it is currently a non-cognizable offence. The police are now searching for the main accused, Saddam Hussain, and have been urged to shut down the shop permanently.
This case highlights yet another example of how fraudsters exploit public trust, especially targeting women, in broad daylight on Pune’s roads.
