Archive · 7 Sep 2026
IT Student Allegedly Creates Fake PMPML App for Free Travel
A college student in Pune is accused of making a fake bus-pass app.
The app looked similar to the official PMPML app.
Police say he used it to make fake daily passes and ride buses without paying.
He allegedly began using the app in March 2025.
A conductor noticed that one of his passes looked unusual on August 30, 2026.
The pass had the wrong background colour for that day.
PMPML staff checked the student’s phone and confirmed that the pass did not come from the official app.
The student was taken to PMPML headquarters, and police registered a case.
A careful conductor helped uncover the alleged fraud.
Prathamesh Laxman Boge, 20, allegedly created a duplicate PMPML app and used it to generate fake daily passes.
Police say Boge had used the application since March 2025 when he lacked money for bus travel.
Conductor Dattatray Jayabhaye detected a suspicious pass on a Bhekainagar-Alandi bus at Ruby Hall on August 30, 2026.
PMPML’s IT department found that the pass’s background colour did not match the official colour for that date.
Police registered a case at Koregaon Park police station, while the investigation continues.
- Who
- Information Technology student Prathamesh Laxman Boge, PMPML conductor Dattatray Jayabhaye, and PMPML officials are central to the incident.
- What
- Boge allegedly created a duplicate PMPML mobile application and generated fake daily passes for free travel.
- When
- The suspicious pass was detected on August 30, 2026, at about 5:15 p.m.; police say the app had been used since March 2025.
- Where
- The pass was detected on a Bhekainagar-Alandi bus at Ruby Hall bus stop in Pune, and the case was lodged at Koregaon Park police station.
- Why
- Police say Boge used the fake passes when he did not have money to pay for bus travel.
- Suspect
- Prathamesh Laxman Boge, 20, a resident of Charholi near Red Cliff School
- Transport agency
- Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML)
- Detection date
- August 30, 2026
- Detection time
- About 5:15 p.m.
- Route
- Bhekainagar-Alandi bus
- Detection location
- Ruby Hall bus stop, Pune
- Police station
- Koregaon Park police station
- Complaint filed by
- PMPML Assistant Depot Manager Ramdas Dundaji Virnak