Pune: Hinjawadi Bus Fire Not an Accident But Deliberate Act of Revenge by Driver, Claims Police
In a shocking turn of events, the tragic Tempo Traveller fire in Hinjawadi, which claimed four lives and left several injured, has been confirmed as a deliberate act of revenge by the driver, Janardan Hambardikar. The Pimpri Chinchwad Police revealed that the driver’s motive stemmed from disputes with workers and anger over unpaid wages during Diwali.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 2) Vishal Gaikwad, Hambardikar had meticulously planned the crime by storing benzene and rags in the bus a day before the incident. On March 19, 2025, he ignited the rags using a matchstick, causing the bus to burst into flames just 500 meters from its destination at Vyoma Graphics in Hinjawadi Phase I. The fire resulted in the deaths of Subhash Bhosale, Shankar Shinde, Gurudas Lokhare, and Rajan Chavan, while six others, including the driver, sustained injuries.
Watch Vishal Gaikwad, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 2) brief the press about this revelation:
#Hinjawadi Phase 1 Mini bus #fire was a Deliberate act of revenage, by the bus driver .#Pune#Crime#fire_incident#PCMC pic.twitter.com/ibjgzOndYu
— Akshata Pawar (@Akshataspawar) March 20, 2025
The injured include Vishwas Khanvilkar, Sandeep Shinde, Vishwas Jori, Chandrakant Malji, and Pravin Nikam. Four passengers—Krushnarao Godase, Manjiri Adkar, Vitthal Dighe, and Pradeep Raut—managed to escape with their lives. The bus, registered as MH 14 CW 3548, had a valid fitness certificate and no prior mechanical issues, as confirmed by RTO officials and company representatives.
The incident has sparked outrage and raised serious concerns about transport safety and labor disputes. MLA Hemant Rasne raised the issue in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, demanding maximum assistance for the affected families and urging the government to ensure the company fulfills its responsibilities.
Hambardikar’s grievances included disputes with workers who had reported his side jobs to the administration and dissatisfaction over unpaid Diwali wages. The case is currently under investigation at the Hinjawadi Police Station, with the driver under medical custody.
