Pune, 28 August 2025: Despite a citywide liquor ban on Wednesday (August 27) for Ganeshotsav, police caught three men illegally selling liquor in the heart of Pune. A matka den operator and two associates were booked after a raid in Shukrawar Peth, where country-made and foreign liquor was seized.
The district administration had ordered a dry day across Pune to maintain law and order during the festival. Acting on this, Khadak police kept watch in central areas. On Wednesday evening, a patrol team led by Assistant Police Inspector Kuldeep Vhatkar received a tip-off about illegal liquor sales near Shahu Chowk in Shukrawar Peth.
Police raided a backroom of a local eatery and caught Vaibhav Vijay Dongre (26) and Guddu Kumar Bholakumar (26) selling liquor. During questioning, the duo admitted they were selling alcohol at the behest of matka den operator Nandu Naik, a resident of Shukrawar Peth.
Following this, police registered a case against all three and seized the liquor stock. The operation was carried out by the Khadak police team, including officers Ashish Chavan, Harshal Dudum, Kiran Thaware, Nadaph, Farande, and Gore.
