Alandi police have registered a case against self-styled religious figure Mahesh Balkrishna Madke, social media reel creator Pratik Shinde and five others after alleged dangerous vehicle stunts near Kelgaon, and have seized the Toyota Innova Crysta used in the incident.
The case was registered at Alandi police station on Friday, October 9, following an incident at around 5.30 pm on Wednesday, October 7. According to the complaint, the group drove vehicles recklessly, repeatedly turned them in circles and carried out stunts while people had gathered at the location.
Senior police inspector Bhima Narke confirmed the case and the vehicle seizure, according to Sakal-Pune. The complaint was filed by police constable Narayan Dhanaji Survase. Madke, a resident of Gopalpura in Alandi, and Shinde, from Baramati, have been named along with Vishal Satare of Gopalpura, Yash Mungase of Kelgaon and three unidentified people.
Police said the group was celebrating the purchase of Madke’s new Innova Crysta, bearing registration number MH 14 NS 4501, and was creating social media reels during the celebration. The complaint states that the vehicles were driven in a dangerous manner, with sudden changes in speed, creating a risk to the lives of those driving them and people who had gathered nearby.
The case also includes an allegation that the group filmed the event using a drone without permission, in violation of an order issued by the police authorities in Pimpri-Chinchwad. Police have registered offences under the Motor Vehicles Act and seized the identified four-wheeler. Cases have also been registered against the drivers of three black vehicles allegedly used to assist the stunts.
Videos associated with the celebration reportedly show the use of five or six horses and a trailer along with the new vehicle. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding their use and the wider event. The supplied report does not specify the sections of the Motor Vehicles Act invoked in the case.
The incident highlights the enforcement challenge posed by public vehicle stunts recorded for social media, where a private celebration can quickly involve bystanders, multiple vehicles and unauthorised filming equipment. In this case, the police complaint links the alleged driving conduct to a direct risk to people at the site, while also recording a separate allegation concerning drone use.
The investigation by Alandi police is continuing. Further action will depend on the evidence collected regarding the vehicle stunts, the people involved and the alleged drone filming.
