Pune, 2nd June 2026: Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar has responded to allegations made by MP Supriya Sule, who recently claimed that Pune was becoming a 'capital of criminals'.
In a letter, Kumar said crime in the city has been steadily declining since 2023 and maintained that Pune remains one of the safer metropolitan cities in India.
The clarification comes after Sule demanded compulsory leave for the police commissioner following a series of serious incidents in the city. Kumar said the perception of rising crime was largely due to five major incidents reported within a span of ten days in May 2026.
According to the commissioner:
Pune ranks 18th among 19 metropolitan cities in NCRB rankings for cognisable offences.
Around 200 MCOCA cases have been registered in the last two years.
More than 1,000 criminals have faced action under organised crime laws.
Preventive action was taken against 250 people under the MPDA Act.
Nearly 500 offenders were externed from the city.
Commissioner Amitesh Kumar highlighted major action taken against drug trafficking and illegal liquor trade:
Drugs worth nearly Rs 20 crore seized in the last two years.
An international drug racket worth Rs 3,700 crore busted in 2024.
Action taken against nearly 1,000 illegal liquor sellers.
Liquor worth over Rs 1 crore seized.
The commissioner said Pune Police are strengthening surveillance and emergency response systems across the city.
Key Measures Introduced:
Around 2,800 CCTV cameras installed under the Safe City project.
Rs 80 crore AI-based safety project approved for women’s safety in hill areas.
Dial 112 emergency response time reduced to around eight minutes.
Police data from January 1 to May 27, 2026, shows a decline in several categories of crime.
Chain snatching cases down by 56%
Robbery cases down by 36%
Vehicle theft down by 28%
Attempt to murder cases down by 27%
House break-ins and theft cases also declined
Murder cases reduced by 10.5%
Police clarified that most murder cases reported this year were linked to family disputes.
Rape cases down by 7%
Molestation cases down by 1%
The commissioner also addressed rumours regarding restrictions ahead of Bakri Eid. He clarifies that The police notification is a routine measure and not a lockdown. Only temporary stalls and hawkers are restricted after 10 pm, licensed shops and authorized businesses can continue operations normally.
“Misleading crime-related information circulating on social media creates fear among citizens and damages Pune’s reputation. Such narratives also affect the morale of the police force. We welcome constructive criticism, but everyone must work together to preserve Pune’s identity as a major IT and education hub,” said Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar.
