In a dramatic twist to the Pune Porsche car crash case, Congress leader Ravindra Dhangekar has unveiled a corruption scandal involving police officials. Dhangekar, a Member of the Legislative Assembly from Kasba Peth, revealed that police officers are allegedly receiving substantial monthly bribes from pub and drug trade owners to facilitate their illegal operations.

On Wednesday, Dhangekar disclosed names and details of those involved in the alleged ‘Hafta Vasooli’—a term used for extortion—from pubs, clubs, and liquor shops. He accused the superintendent of excise, Pune, of routinely accepting bribes, with the involvement of various constables and private individuals. These bribes, collected from venues in areas such as Viman Nagar, Koregaon Park, Kalyani Nagar, Bhugaon Bhukum, Baner, Hinjawadi, Pimpri Chinchwad, and Lonavala, amount to approximately Rs 78 lakh per month.

The list, exposing the extent of the bribery, has shocked the public and highlighted deep-rooted corruption within the Pune police department, significantly undermining the city’s law enforcement integrity.

The scandal emerged in the aftermath of a tragic accident where two young IT professionals, Aneesh Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta, lost their lives. Ashwini died on the spot, while Aneesh succumbed to his injuries shortly after being admitted to a hospital. The minor involved in the crash was initially granted bail by the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) just 15 hours post-incident, under the condition of writing an essay on road safety and car accidents. Following widespread condemnation, the JJB has since ordered the minor to an observation home until June 5.