3 weeks ago
MSHRC Orders Inquiry Into Pune Police 'Singhamgiri' Conduct
Police officers in a city in India were trying to stop loud motorcycles that make too much noise and pollution.
A video showed them doing some very unusual things.
They made people who broke traffic rules do exercises in public.
They also crushed motorcycle parts with a big road roller and closed shops that sold those parts.
Some people thought this was too much.
A special group called the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission protects people's rights.
It said police cannot punish people or destroy their things without a court deciding it first.
The group asked top police officers and government officials to explain what happened.
A team will investigate and give a report within one week.
The group will talk about this again on August 20, 2026.
The Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission (MSHRC) took suo motu cognisance of a viral video allegedly showing Pune Police publicly punishing traffic violators.
The video showed officers forcing alleged offenders to perform sit-ups while holding their ears and crushing modified motorcycle silencers with a road roller.
The commission called the conduct a 'Singhamgiri' culture, with police acting as judge and executioner in total disregard of the rule of law.
Notices were sent to the Maharashtra Chief Secretary, the DGP, Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, DCP Jeevan Beniwal and Inspector Girisha Nimbalkar.
MSHRC's Investigation Wing, led by Special Inspector General Datta Karale, must submit its fact-finding report within one week; the next hearing is on August 20, 2026.
- Who
- The Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission (MSHRC) ordered the inquiry; Pune Police officials, including Senior Police Inspector Girisha Nimbalkar of Kalepadal Police Station, were involved in the alleged conduct.
- What
- MSHRC ordered a probe into Pune Police allegedly imposing public punishments and destroying modified silencers without due process, calling it a 'Singhamgiri' culture.
- Where
- Pune, Maharashtra, India.
- When
- Order issued on August 5, 2026; next hearing scheduled for August 20, 2026.
- Why
- The commission said the actions violated due process, human rights and constitutional guarantees, amounting to extra-judicial punishment.
Rule of Law / Human Rights
Strict Enforcement / Pollution Control
Public punishment of traffic violators
Rule of Law / Human Rights
Forcing offenders to do sit-ups in public is extra-judicial punishment. Police cannot punish anyone before an investigation, trial and a court's verdict, and public humiliation violates constitutional due process and dignity.
Strict Enforcement / Pollution Control
The actions took place during an anti-noise and anti-pollution drive targeting modified exhaust systems, where police aimed to strictly curb noise and air pollution caused by violators.
Destruction of modified silencers
Rule of Law / Human Rights
Crushing seized silencers with a road roller and sealing shops was done without lodging an FIR, filing a charge sheet, conducting a trial or obtaining a court order for destruction of property, violating the rule of law.
Strict Enforcement / Pollution Control
Destroying illegal modified silencers and closing shops selling them was a direct way to remove the source of noise and air pollution from circulation during the enforcement drive.
Key facts
- Commission
- Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission (MSHRC)
- Full Bench
- Justice A.M. Badar, Justice Swapna Joshi, Member Sanjay Kumar
- Alleged Conduct
- Public sit-ups, crushing silencers with a road roller, sealing shops
- Police Station
- Kalepadal Police Station
- Notices Issued To
- Chief Secretary, DGP, Comm. Amitesh Kumar, DCP Jeevan Beniwal, Insp. Girisha Nimbalkar
- Investigation
- Investigation Wing under Special IG Datta Karale; report due within one week
- Order Date
- August 5, 2026
- Next Hearing
- August 20, 2026
Quotes
Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission
Commission order citing legal violations
“"All this is obviously done without lodgment of the FIR, filing of the charge sheet, subjecting the accused to trial and delivery of the verdict of guilt by the competent Court, with a consequent order by the Court of law for destruction of property seized in crime."”
freepressjournal.in
“"The video makes it clear that Pune Police are unstoppable in 'Singhamgiri' culture, showing total disregard for the rule of law."”
freepressjournal.in
Sources
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