Throughout 2025, Pune was shaken by a series of violent crimes, from workplace attacks and sexual assault to gang killings and domestic murders.
Viral videos, social media outrage, and major police operations pushed these cases into the spotlight, exposing growing concerns around urban safety, policing gaps, and rising aggression.
A 28-year-old woman working at a multinational BPO in Yerawada was attacked with a sharp weapon by her male colleague in the company’s parking area. She died due to her injuries during treatment at a hospital.
Gaurav Thorat, 22, was murdered in Kothrud’s Shastrinagar area after being targeted by a group of around ten men due to old enmity. After a gunshot reportedly missed, the attackers assaulted him using sickles and stones, killing him on the spot. Police have arrested seven including minors.
A 26-year-old health counsellor was raped twice inside a Shivshahi bus parked overnight at the MSRTC Swargate terminus. The accused, Dattatray Gade, a known repeat offender, was traced after an extensive manhunt involving drones and sniffer dogs.
A bus carrying employees in Hinjawadi IT Park was completely gutted by fire, initially believed to have been caused by a short circuit. However, a forensic science laboratory (FSL) report later confirmed that the driver had deliberately set the bus on fire using benzene following a salary-related dispute. Four people died in the incident.
The death of Vaishnavi Hagawane in Mulshi taluka led to serious allegations of dowry harassment against her in-laws. Following investigations and public pressure, multiple family members were arrested.
Eighteen-year-old Ayush Komkar, grandson of alleged gangster Bandu Andekar and nephew of slain former corporator Vanraj Andekar, was shot multiple times in a parking area in Bhavani Peth. Police probed the murder as a revenge attack linked to Vanraj Andekar’s 2024 killing.
Seventeen-year-old Mayank Kanhade was hacked to death with sharp weapons by three juvenile accused in broad daylight on Bajirao Road. The attack was reportedly triggered by a prior dispute, with investigators also examining possible links to gang rivalry or social media-related conflicts.
In Warje Malwadi, a man murdered his wife by strangulation over suspicions of an extramarital affair. He later burned her body in a garage and disposed of the remains in a river, initially filing a missing person complaint. Police later uncovered the crime during the investigation, revealing a chilling attempt to erase evidence.
