In a deeply troubling incident, two police constables from Pune’s Deccan Police Station have been suspended following allegations of extorting money from civilians during night patrol duty. What was meant to be a public safety measure has now cast a shadow over the integrity of the city’s mobile policing initiative.
The incident came to light after a complaint was filed against the officers who allegedly stopped a young couple parked on Damle Path near Law College Road during the night hours of June 17. Claiming that a complaint had been received against them, the constables reportedly demanded ₹20,000 in cash. Intimidated by the prospect of police action and legal complications, the couple complied, withdrawing the amount from a nearby ATM and handing it over.
The two constables—Ganesh Tatyasaheb Desai, who was on duty as a mobile van driver, and Yogesh Narayan Sutar, assigned as a beat marshal near Balgandharva—were accused of abusing their authority and failing to follow lawful procedures. Instead of taking formal action, they allegedly let the couple go after receiving the money, raising serious questions about misconduct and dereliction of duty.
Following an internal probe, both officers were suspended by senior police authorities. The decision highlights the department’s attempt to maintain accountability and discipline within the force.
This incident is not isolated. Previous cases have surfaced where beat marshals allegedly used false pretenses to extract money from citizens—such as a recent episode at a newly set-up police help center at Bopdev Ghat and another involving society members in Baner.
The episode has sparked public concern over the misuse of mobile vans—originally introduced to ensure quicker police response and improved patrolling—as tools of intimidation rather than protection. An internal review and stricter oversight are now expected to prevent further erosion of public trust.
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