Premium

Sule takes up wrestler case with Punjab CM, seeks Sikander Shaikh’s release pending probe

Will help wrestler if we don't find anything against him: Police

4 min readPuneNov 4, 2025 02:20 AM IST

Sule said NCP(SP) MLA Rohit Pawar had told her that Shaikh has been framed in case due to a sports rivalry (Express File Photo)

BARAMATI MP Supriya Sule on Monday said she has spoken with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and sought his intervention for the release of arrested wrestler Sikander Shaikh who hails from Solapur district of Maharashtra.

“Today, I spoke to the Punjab Chief Minister. We held a conference call with the Director General of Punjab. The CM told me that Mohali SSP will speak to the family of Shaikh in this regard,” Sule told this paper.

Shaikh was arrested last week in Mohali along with two gangsters for allegedly being part of an inter-state arms smuggling network.

Sule said “I have urged the Chief Minister that Punjab police should go ahead with the probe but for now Sikander should be released now,” she said.

Sule said NCP(SP) MLA Rohit Pawar had told her that Shaikh has been framed in case due to a sports rivalry. “In the morning when I spoke to the Chief Minister, he told me that he will update me about the matter by afternoon. And then later he spoke to me. During the conversation, I urged him to intervene in the matter and ensure the release of the wrestler till the probe is carried out,” she said.

When contacted by The Indian Express, Mohali SSP Harmandeep Singh Hans said, “We are looking into the case. It has been only two days since the arrest has taken place. We are investigating the matter. If we don’t find anything against him in the case, we will definitely help him.”

The Punjab police said they will look into all the issues raised by his family and others. “We will definitely consider the points raised by Shaikh’s family and others while investigating the matter.”

Story continues below this ad

Sule, who belongs to the NCP led by Sharad Pawar, has thrown her weight behind the wrestler even though the NCP led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has taken yup the cudgels on behalf of Sikander Shaikh. The NCP has also urged the Chief Minister of Punjab to release the wrestler, alleging that there was a conspiracy by local wrestlers in Punjab to stop him from becoming the Hind Kesari (national wrestling champion). “We have urged the Punjab Chief Minister to use his good offices to secure the release of the wrestler. We, the people of Solapur, who know the wrestler from childhood as well as his family are fully confident that Sikander would do no wrong. I myself lived in the same area for years like Sikander did,” said NCP Solapur District president Umesh Patil.

Highlighting how the conspiracy took place to frame him, Patil said Shaikh was given a parcel by some wrestlers to hand it over to some of their friends. “Shaikh did not open the parcel. He had no clue what was inside the parcel. He carried it with him. Police intercepted him, checked the parcel and arrested him. This is a clear cut conspiracy case,” said Patil.

The wrestler’s family said they can’t believe that their son will ever indulge in such an act. “Sikander will never do anything wrong. He has earned his fame through the dint of hard-work. It is definitely a conspiracy to frame him and stop him from becoming the nation’s top wrestler. We are confident that the Punjab police will do proper justice in this matter,” said Rashid Shaikh, the wrestler’s father who himself has won laurels in wrestling bouts of Solapur district.

Manoj Dattatrye More

Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More

Click here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories

Loading Recommendations...

Mar 17: Latest News

Live Blog