Pune, 3rd February 2026: Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar has announced stricter action against drunk driving to prevent road accidents and loss of lives in the city. He said that if a driver is found guilty of drunk driving repeatedly, the police will directly seize the vehicle.
The commissioner was speaking at a counselling and guidance camp organised under the Road Safety Campaign 2026 at the traffic police headquarters in Shivajinagar.
The programme was aimed at drivers booked for drunk driving offences. Senior police officials, including Additional Commissioner Manoj Patil and Deputy Commissioner (Traffic) Himmat Jadhav, were present.
Kumar said Pune Police have been taking continuous action against violations such as drunk driving, triple-seat riding and other traffic offences. “In 2023, around 550 drivers were caught drunk driving. This number rose to nearly 3,000 in 2024 and crossed 6,000 in 2025. These figures clearly show how serious the problem is,” he said.
He added that going forward, photographs of drivers caught drunk driving will be published on the police website. “We will also send notices to their workplaces and call their family members to explain the seriousness of the offence. If a person is caught drunk driving more than once, the vehicle will be seized. Vehicles involved in triple-seat riding will also be confiscated,” Kumar said.
Highlighting the impact of such violations, the commissioner noted that around 300 people have died in road accidents in Pune, many of them linked to drunk driving. Referring to the 2024 Kalyaninagar accident in which two young professionals lost their lives, he said the incident showed how one reckless act can destroy multiple lives.
“In that case, the minor accused’s family spent nearly 19 months in jail. On one side, innocent lives were lost; on the other, an entire family suffered,” he said.
Kumar appealed to citizens to strictly follow traffic rules. “Our aim is that not a single citizen should be found driving under the influence of alcohol. The police will act firmly, but public cooperation and responsible behaviour are equally important,” he said.
