A Shiv Sena functionary has been accused of vandalising a street food cart, damaging nearby CCTV cameras and abusing people after a vendor allegedly asked him to pay for a vada pav at Phadke Haud in Pune’s Kasba Peth, according to a complaint submitted at the Kasba police outpost.
The complaint names Akshay Dhamale, who is associated with the Shiv Sena medical cell. The complainant, Prasad Vijay Khadatkar, sells Karjat Vada Pav from a stall in the area. According to the complaint, the confrontation began when Khadatkar sought payment for the food and Dhamale allegedly became aggressive.
The complaint alleges that Dhamale damaged the food cart during the incident. It further alleges that he threw stones at the cart and broke surveillance cameras installed in the vicinity. The cameras are part of the local monitoring infrastructure around the busy public area, although the complaint does not specify the extent of the damage or whether footage of the incident was recovered.
Khadatkar also alleged that Dhamale called his son at around 12.30 am and abused him over the phone after the confrontation. The complaint additionally contains allegations of obscene behaviour, including that the accused allegedly urinated at the spot. These allegations have not been independently established and are subject to police investigation.
The incident highlights the vulnerability of small street food businesses operating in dense, high-footfall neighbourhoods. Such stalls function within public spaces that are shared by vendors, pedestrians, nearby residents and other businesses. Disputes at these locations can quickly affect access, surveillance, public order and the safety of workers and customers.
The complaint was lodged with the Kasba police, and further action is awaited. The supplied report does not state whether a First Information Report has been registered, whether anyone has been arrested or whether the accused has responded to the allegations. The police investigation will determine the facts and any applicable offences.
