Pune, 8th December 2025: A Pune police constable, Nikhil Randive, has been missing since December 5, sparking serious concern and triggering an investigation into allegations of mental harassment within the police department. Five special search teams have been formed to trace his whereabouts.
Before going missing, Randive posted emotional messages on WhatsApp along with photos of his young daughter and himself. In one post, written on his daughter’s first birthday, he said he wanted to celebrate the day but felt helpless due to the pressure and arbitrary decisions within the police system.
In another post, he shared his own photo with a message that read like a farewell. Soon after, his mobile phone was switched off, and all contact was lost.
Randive had recently been transferred from Yavat Police Station to Shikrapur Police Station. However, he alleged that Senior Police Inspector Narayan Deshmukh refused to relieve him from duty.
His request for leave was also reportedly rejected even when his daughter was unwell and again on her birthday. In his final post, Randive claimed he had been facing mental harassment for over a year and was taking the extreme step because he could no longer cope with the pressure.
Following the incident, tensions rose within the Pune police force. Randive’s family has accused Sub-Divisional Police Officer Bapurao Dadas of attempting to shield the senior inspector. Randive’s brother filed a missing complaint at Shikrapur Police Station, after which the search operation began.
Randive’s wife, Akshada Randive, has formally complained to Chief Minister and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis, demanding a high-level inquiry by senior police officers into the allegations of harassment. The case has once again brought the issue of mental stress and workplace pressure in the police force into sharp focus.
