Pune, May 26 — In a stunning revelation, Pune Police have accused Nilesh Rajendra Ghare, the district president of Yuva Sena—the youth wing of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction—of orchestrating a fake shooting to gain political sympathy and bolster his claim for police protection.
The alleged incident took place around midnight on May 19 near Ganapati Matha on Warje-NDA Road. Initial reports claimed that two unidentified men on a motorcycle fired at Ghare’s black SUV, which was parked nearby. Although the vehicle showed signs of bullet damage, no injuries were reported. At the time of the incident, Ghare was inside his public relations office, located just a short distance away.
However, the investigation quickly took an unexpected turn. Police detained three individuals—Sachin Gole, Shubham Khemnar, and Ajay alias Bagli Sakpal—who confessed that the entire shooting was a setup orchestrated by Ghare himself. The accused revealed that the motive behind staging the attack was to portray Ghare as a target of political threats. This would, in turn, strengthen his previously denied requests for a firearm license and official police protection.
Authorities are still searching for a fourth suspect, Sanket Matale, who remains on the run. The police have launched an active manhunt to locate him.
The revelations have triggered outrage in Pune’s political circles, raising concerns about how far individuals might go to manipulate public perception. As the investigation continues, law enforcement officials have assured that strict action will be taken against all those involved in the staged incident.
