Activist fighting ‘virginity test’ targeted in Pune, second instance in weeks

Indrekar, who works for the state law and justice department, is part of a small network which is raising voice against the 'humiliating' practice of performing virginity tests on newlywed women in Kanjarbhat community.

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The members of this network have formed a WhatsApp group called “Stop the V-ritual”. (Source: Google Maps)

Days after he filed a police complaint against an alleged ‘virginity test’ performed on a newlywed woman in his community, Krushna Indrekar, a Maharashtra government employee posted in Mumbai, came under attack on Thursday. His car was damaged by unidentified people while he was attending a marriage function in Pune on Thursday. On January 21, Prashant Indrekar and a few other activists were beaten up, allegedly by people from their own community, at a wedding ceremony in Pimpri, near Pune, where they had gone to check whether virginity test was been performed.

Indrekar (51), who works for the state law and justice department, is part of a small network which is raising voice against the “humiliating” practice of performing virginity tests on newlywed women in Kanjarbhat community, a nomadic tribe in Maharashtra. The members of this network have formed a WhatsApp group called “Stop the V-ritual”.

Indrekar, who says he and his wife Aruna were boycotted by the caste panchayat long back for speaking against such “traditional” practices, said, “I attended the marriage of a Kanjarbhat couple on February 21. I parked my vehicle around 7.30 pm. I was inside the hall for about four hours. When I came out in the early hours of Thursday, I found that my car windshield had been hit by stones and the car had been damaged. I have filed a complaint. We are being targeted by people from my own community, who do not like our campaign against wrong practices. I suspect somebody among them has damaged my car,” Indrekar told The Indian Express.

Siddhant Indrekar, a relative and member of the group, claimed that a few suspects are visible in CCTV footage and attempts are on to identify them. Hasan Malke, a Kanjarbhat community elder, said it is wrong to assume that someone from the community had damaged Indrekar’s car. “Let the cops investigate and find the persons who damaged his car…. There is no registered caste panchayat of Kanjarbhat community. But traditionally, we have 18 Subedars, who are respected seniors in the community. They work for the welfare. No humiliating practices are encouraged,” he claimed.

Chandan Haygunde

Chandan Haygunde is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With over 20 years of experience in journalism, he is one of the region's most authoritative voices on crime, national security, and legal affairs. Professional Profile Specialization: He specialises covering issues related to Crime, Courts, National Security and Human Rights. He has done investigative reporting on incidents of terrorism, left wing extremism, espionage cases, wildlife crimes, narcotics racket, cyber crimes and sensational murder cases in Pune and other parts of Maharashtra. While working on the ‘Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Fellowship on Tigers, Tiger Habitats and Conservation’ in 2012, he reported extensively on the illegal activities in the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. He is at the helm of the widely read weekly series “Pune Crime Files”. He is widely recognized for his deep-dive coverage of the cases related to the Koregaon Bhima violence in Pune and the Elgaar Parishad investigation. Key Beats: His portfolio includes covering crimes mainly under the jurisdiction of Pune City, Pune rural and Pimpri Chinchwad Police, along with the sensitive cases from the state, being investigated by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Background: Before his long tenure at The Indian Express, he worked with other Marathi and English publications, giving him a unique grassroots understanding of Maharashtra's socio-political landscape. Awards and Recognition: He got the CMS PANOS Young Environment Journalist Award in January 2014 for investigative reports on illegal activities in Sahyadri Tiger Rerserve. He received the award for outstanding investigative journalism by the Lokmat group in Pune in January 2020, “Missing since 2010, Pune youth a ‘Maoist Commander’ in Chhattisgarh”, which appeared on July 9, 2019. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) In recent months, Chandan’s reporting has focused on high-profile terror case investigations, inter-state firearms racket, leopard movements in Pune city, cyber scams and hearings of the Koregaon Bhima Commission of Inquiry. 1. High-Profile crimes and terrorism cases “Techie linked to Al-Qaeda preached democracy is against Shariat” (Nov 17, 2025). Reporting on the ongoing investigation into the arrest of IT professional Zubair Hangargekar (37) from Pune for alleged terror links. “The case against Jyoti Jagtap, member of ‘Maoist front’ Kabir Kala Manch and Elgaar Parishad organiser, granted interim bail by apex court” (Nov 20, 2025) Tracking the updates in the high profile Elgaar Parishad case related to the alleged naxal activities in urban areas. “How NIA arrested doctor turned ‘ISIS recruiter’ in Maharashtra terror module case” (Nov 24, 2025) After the arrest of doctors in Delhi Red Fort blast, a report on alleged terror links of a consulting anaesthetist from a Pune hospital. “A year after loco pilot averts tragedy by spotting gas cylinder on railway track, probe still inconclusive” (Dec 8, 2025). Report on the unsolved case of a suspected sabotage incident, which could have derailed a train. “No records of Sambhaji Maharaj’s cremation available: Author, ex-IAS officer Vishwas Patil tells Koregaon Bhima panel” (Dec 1, 2025) Reporting on a sensitive issue related to the Koregaon Bhima violence. 2. Inter-state firearms racket "Pune police swoop down on ‘village of pistols’ in Madhya Pradesh; 36 detained, 50 kilns destroyed" (Nov 22, 2025) "Recce a week before, microplanning: how Pune police raided ‘village of pistols’ in MP" (Nov 24, 2025) Reporting on the illegal gun manufacturing units in Umarti village, Madhya Pradesh 3. Cybercrime & Financial Scams “Pimpri Chinchwad police arrest ‘bank account supplier’ with links to China, nationwide cyber scams" (Nov 27, 2025) An investigative look at the modus opernadi of international cyber-gangs cheating high-earning professionals across the country ‘Your case linked to Pahalgam terrorist’: Pune businessman loses Rs 1.44 crore to fraudster posing as NIA chief" (Oct 18, 2025) Report on the tricks played on cyber scammers cheating people through digital arrest frauds Signature Style: The Investigative Hit Chandan is known for his ability to cultivate deep-cover sources within the police and intelligence agencies. His writing often goes beyond the "police version" of events, providing historical context and identifying systemic lapses. He is particularly respected for his balanced reporting on sensitive communal issues and his persistent tracking of the Maoist urban-link cases, making his columns essential reading for legal experts and policymakers. X (Twitter): @chandan_pune ... Read More

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