Man in police custody for taking PMPML bus on joyride

Police personnel deployed for security duty at the event received information about the stolen bus in time. Acting swiftly, they intercepted the vehicle and took the young man into custody.

“The bus arrived at the PMC terminus in the afternoon. The driver was subsequently assigned a different route and, in his haste, left the ignition key near the steering wheel. The youth from Uttarakhand found the bus empty and took advantage of the situation. He drove it past the PMC Building and along Jangli Maharaj Road, reaching Gokhale Memorial Square, where he was attempting to drive against the flow of traffic. Our personnel, who had received information about this, acted with presence of mind and intercepted the bus,” said Girish Nimbalakar, Senior Police Inspector, Deccan Police Station.

Late on Saturday night, the process of registering a case against the youth under the Motor Vehicles Act and other relevant provisions of law was underway at Shivajinagar Police Station. A senior police official stated that leaving a bus key unattended constitutes negligence and that the concerned PMPML driver will face an inquiry by the administration.

A grim reminder

The incident has drawn comparisons to one of Pune’s most tragic road mishaps. On January 25, 2012, Santosh Mane hijacked a State Transport (ST) bus from the Swargate bus stand and went on a rampage. The speeding bus mowed down pedestrians and vehicles along Shankarsheth Road and Swargate, killing nine people and injuring 27 others.

Saturday’s incident, while fortunately ending without casualties, has once again raised serious questions about vehicle security protocols at public transport depots.